| James Kon |
THE Ministry of Education through the Community Service under Co-Curriculum Education Department and Uniform Unit yesterday presented essential food items to 131 underprivileged families, 12 orphans and 12 students from underprivileged families through the first of its kind ‘Fastabiqul Khairat’ programme.
Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman presented the items to the students and orphans. He then handed over contributions to the convoys who were to make the deliveries to the homes of the 131 underprivileged families residing at the National Housing Scheme of Lambak Kanan. They are registered under the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).
The convoys comprise volunteers from the Police Cadets, Army Cadets, Fire and Rescue Cadets, Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association, Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam, Red Crescent Association with various units under Ministry of Education
One recipient, Waie bin Mohammad Noor, expressed gratefulness at receiving the essential items. He feels the contribution helps ease the family burden, particularly in the month of Ramadhan and in view of the upcoming Hari Raya festivities.
Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Os-man handing over donations to Waie bin Mohammad Noor (pic above) and to the youngest recipient (pic below). – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
Waie, whose ambition is to become an engineer, vows to work hard to help his parent and family.
The Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College (MDPMAMB) student added, “Poverty is not an excuse for not doing well in school, instead it motivates me. I want to work hard and do well in my studies so that I can help my parent and my siblings to improve our current difficult situation.”
Waie is the eldest child. He has a younger brother currently in primary school and a younger sister in Arabic school.
In his welcoming remarks, Acting Director of Co-curriculum Education Haji Aziz bin Haji Nayan said, “This is the first time the Department of Co-curriculum Education, through uniformed units and community services as well as welfare bodies, have come together to organise a community charity programme to assist orphans under the department and underprivileged families of Lambak Kanan National Housing Scheme in conjunction with the month of Ramadhan.
The charity programme, dubbed ‘Fastabiqul Khairat,’ means “striving to do good.”
He added, “The department has carried out assessments and found that there is room for improvement in providing education on moral values to members of uniformed groups or students. The moral values that can be instilled are community services like what we are doing today. Through the informal education, it is hoped that the aspiration in SPN21 can also be fulfilled in providing holistic education to all as well as fulfilling Brunei’s aspiration of becoming among the Top 10 nations in the world by 2035.”
Members of the public handed over contributions for the charity project at the Co-Curriculum Education Department between May 2-30.
The project involved members and supervising teachers from six uniformed groups of schools nationwide. This has helped train uniformed groups to actively participate in charity work and foster close ties among officials from the ministry and organising committee as well as donors and recipients of donation.
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