By Lyna Mohammad
Pehin Dato (Dr) Hj Awg Hussain, Minister of
Culture, Youth and Sports, at the Regional Seminar on
Youth Enterprise Foundation Initiative.
The Regional Seminar on
Youth Enterprise Foundation Initiative was officially
opened yesterday by the Minister of Culture, Youth and
Sports, Pehin Dato (Dr) Hj Awg Hussain Pehin Dato Hj Awg
Mohd Yusof at the Orchid Garden Hotel in Berakas.
The Commonwealth Youth
Programme (CYP) runs on a very tight budget and is
distributed evenly throughout the four regions for
Pan-Commonwealth activities. In his speech, the minister
noted that despite the budgetary constraints, the Asia
Centre of the CYP has been able to function to its maximum
potential, as it is one of the most active of the regional
countries in organising programmes for Asia's youth.
He added that last year,
with the assistance of the CYP, Brunei Darussalam launched
its National Youth Policy. Although it has been very much
designed to suit the needs of local youths, the policy is
based on the CYP framework of policy formulation, in which
one of the strategic plans outlined is the establishment
of a youth foundation.
"This Seminar on
Youth Enterprise Foundation is therefore well-timed as we
are in the initial stages of the formulation of the
concept and details of our own Youth Enterprise
Foundation. Funding or the lack of it can make or break
any organisation," he said.
Pehin also stated that he
got inspired by the "LiveWire" youth enterprise
programme run by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company with the
participation of a major banking institution. In a short
span of its implementation, a large number of young
Bruneian entrepreneurs have benefited from this programme
and introduced to basic business "know-how."
He also hoped that the
direct outcome of this seminar will be the establishment
of the Brunei Darussalam Youth Foundation, which is hoped
to mobilise youths in the economic sector, while at the
same time ensuring the funding for many youth programmes
in the future.
The topic of the seminar,
which ends on April 9, 2003 is of great interest and
relevance to any organisation, governmental or NGO.
Discussions will thus be
of importance to both government officials as well as the
leaders of our nation's youths.
In attendance at
yesterday's event, which was co-organised by the Youth and
Sports Department of MCYS and CYP: Asia Centre,
Commonwealth Secretariat, were the Director of Youth and
Sports, Regional Director of CYP, Asia Centre, Mrs Raka
Rashid and senior government officials.
|
