| Achong Tanjong |
PARTICIPANTS of Universiti Teknologi Brunei’s (UTB) 26th Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) began the implementation of their ‘Single Mother: Self Sufficiency Programme’ with a visit to Siti Rahmah binti Abdullah’s residence in Kampong Katok yesterday.
The programme was part of the Community Outreach Activity (COA) project.
Joining the visit was Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Tahamit bin Haji Nudin.
Also present were programme contributors comprising regulators and telecommunication companies, members from the Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) and non-government organisations (NGOs), as well as government officers.
The programme was established to help single mothers become more independent and not fully rely on government or private sector assistance, as well as to support His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s aspirations of realising zero poverty in the country.
The project group comprises middle management officers attending the 26th EDPMMO conducted by UTB and the Public Service Department for six months ending in January 2019.
The group was led by Aedy Azman bin Haji Azahari and other officers including Shahrin bin Haji Mohd Jawie, Noor Aida binti Haji Timpus, Raimawati binti Haji Badarudin, and Munirah ‘Atirah binti Dato Paduka Haji Othman, who are among the 31 course participants from various government departments and government-linked companies supporting the COA project.
Siti Rahmah, a 57-year-old single mother, is one of the individuals shortlisted to receive assistance under the programme.
Living at a house built by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, she receives financial assistance from the government and contributions of basic necessities from MKM to support herself and her son, who is still in school.
With no additional monthly income and rising monthly basic necessity expenses due to her growing child, Siti Rahmah is in urgent need of an alternative solution.
EDPMMO members found Siti Rahmah qualified for the programme.
“Her difficulty now is that what she does is small-scale, she needs a start-up capital to commercialise the activities,” one of the programme members said. “Her two hobbies if developed further with right guidance, support and appropriate equipment, can help her generate extra income.”
Siti Rahmah received a hydroponics system equipment and an egg incubator sponsored by companies involved in the programme, such as Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), Telekom Brunei Berhad (TelBru), Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd and DST Communications Sdn Bhd. The equipment will enable her to hatch kampong chicken eggs more efficiently.
The hydroponics equipment will enable her to grow vegetables without requiring a large farming area. The equipment, which is low-maintenance and easy to use, is capable of helping crops mature within three to four weeks.
Meanwhile, TelBru’s External Communication and Media Relations Officer Siti Hajar binti Mahathir said that the company presented donations comprising a laptop for her son, a fence, solar lights and a plant shed.