| James Kon |
A TOTAL of 52 youth from all four districts yesterday received their certificates of appreciation for participating in the 14th edition of the Belia Cinta Tanah Air Programme (PBCTA) at the Riadah Hall of the Youth Centre in the capital yesterday, held in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration.
The guest of honour, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, presented the certificates.
The guest of honour also presented certificates to 50 PBCTA alumni who have become volunteers for this year’s programme, which started on February 17.
The guest of honour handed over the best male participant award to Haji Mateen Bolkini bin Haji
Ahmad and best female participant award to Nurhazwani Aqilah binti Rustam Affendie, both from the Tutong District.
Head Officer of Youth and Sports Hajah Noormaslina binti Haji Sulaiman in her speech as the organising chairperson said, “The young generation is an important asset and deserves serious attention and appreciation.”
This year’s PBCTA, she said, “is organised by the MCYS, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, and Ministry of Education as well as associations and youth movements.”
The activities carried out in the programme included participation in the National Day flag-hoisting
ceremony, the distribution of national flag in all four districts, village programme, National Day prayers, National Day parade and the Kayuhan Semangat Hari Kebangsaan 2019.
In addition to 52 participants, Hajah Noormaslina revealed “another 50 volunteers are the programme’s alumni. With their involvement, the programme has proven the spirit of patriotism in youth”.
For further increasing the programme’s effectiveness, five important components were identified – nationhood; leadership; volunteerism and community; religion and spiritual; and sport and recreation.
The objective of the programme is to further raise the spirit of nationhood among youth.
The programme also encourages youth to actively participate in leadership and volunteer activities, as well as youth development activities to foster a friendship, mutual support and assistance to each other.