| Lyna Mohamad |
AS PART of its responsibility as an international company, Total E&P Borneo BV is committed to giving back to its host country’s community through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
“Our CSR has four main pillars, which are protecting the marine environment, contributing towards local competency development in the oil and gas industry in the country, promoting education in the country, as well as engaging with the Brunei community,” said Total’s Head of Corporate Communications and CSR Muhd Rasimoon bin Haji Adinin.
He added that Total E&P Borneo BV’s CSR activity is usually linked to their operations, and their main focus is usually towards protecting the environment and supporting the development of education in the country.
One major involvement of Total under marine environment protection is a collaboration with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) in the conservation of coral reefs, with both parties being heavily involved in the discovery of shipwrecks in Brunei waters recently.
“Once shipwrecks are discovered, we will collaborate with the Brunei government and Brunei museums to excavate the artefacts; those that have been recovered are currently on display at the Maritime Museum,” Muhd Rasimoon told the Sunday Bulletin during a treasure hunt activity for children with cancer at the Women and Children’s Centre of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital yesterday.
Total E&P Borneo BV members and YASKA children with doctors and staff at the Children Oncology Ward of the Women and Children’s Centre of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleh (RIPAS) Hospital in a group photo. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Maisara and family receiving a hamper from Total E&P Borneo BV
Exhibitions showcasing these Bruneian shipwrecks and artefacts have been held in Australia and Paris long time ago.
In an effort to continue promoting and creating awareness among the younger generation and locals of the wrecks, the company has developed an iPad app called ‘Brunei Shipwreck’.
Available for free download, the educational app package consists of a documentary of the discovery of the shipwreck, a teachers kit, student handbook, and exercises relating to the preservation and appreciation of the shipwrecks and their history.
“We have been engaging with schools since a few months ago and have got support from Jerudong International School (JIS) to roll out the programme and curriculum in JIS, but we intend to roll it out in other local schools as well, of course with support from the Museums Department,” Muhd Rasimoon noted.
“We came up with something different this time round as we are trying to encourage our employees to be part of societal activities. This is also part of what we call our EPV (employee voluntary programme), in which they also take part in (the company’s) CSR activities.”
He also pointed out that yesterday’s activity was a follow-up to an activity they organised during Ramadhan last month: a book campaign in which Total contributed books for the use of both the children and patients of the ward.
“So what you see today, we set aside some time for the children and engaged in a treasure hunt activity. We also had a lunch get-together with the kids; some of the food were contributed by our staff,” he added.
This activity is different from what they have done previously, where they helped underprivileged families by donating food items and helped repair their homes.
Hari Raya hampers were presented to the children’s family, while packaged food – supplied by a local private vendor Andy’s Deli – was provided for the children. Hospital staff volunteers, doctors, nurses and staff from the Children Oncology Ward also participated in the activity.
“We definitely hope that this will not be our only CSR activity, so we intend to continue encouraging employees to partake in this kind of programme – we will identify other members of society or children in need of support,” Muhd Rasimoon said.
“We started off with YASKA (Children’s Cancer Foundation) with yesterday’s activity and hopefully we will continue to support other social bodies in the future.”
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