Workshop To Strengthen Youth Associations
By Amin HOsni

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Youth and Sports Department, Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports, yesterday began a three-day "Youth Strengthening Programme: Potential Youth Association Workshop" for some 19 representatives of youth associations in the Brunei Muara District.

The workshop was held at the Youth Centre in Bandar Seri Begawan. Present to give a talk on the roles and function on Youth and Sports Department was Hj Abdul Malik bin Hj Mohammad, Chief Officer of Youths and Sports.

According to Pg NordinbinPg Hj Mahmud, secretary of the organising committee, the workshop is solely for the associations that are less active, newly registered and that have just been formed.

"We receive annual reports from these associations on their updates and activities that they've done over the year. In the report, it was found that some of these associations are somehow not as active as the others are. If for some reason, an association remains inactive, we have the authority to terminate all procedures," he said.

It was noted that a successful association would organise up from 20 to 30 activities in a year whereas some of the associations attending the workshop, would only have as little as five activities a year.

"Sometimes these associations say we don't support them but in fact we assist them financially, providing facilities and educational workshops and in any way we can.

"Basically, the purpose of this workshop is to share information, experience, solve problems between associations that are succeeding and associations that are in need of progress. This workshop is also for the newly registered associations for them to get an idea of how to run successful activities throughout the year," he added.

Topics during the workshop included roles of Youth and Sports Department, Public Association Acts 2005 and successful associations in economy and activities such as Pesaka, Perlu and Perbakal, sharing ideas and experiences.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to determine their weaknesses and strength in efforts to stabilise and strengthen its association.

The closing ceremony and presentation of certificate of participation will be held at the Youth Centre tomorrow, April 20.

In 2004, with the population of 357,000 in Brunei Darussalam, 164,000 were youths aged between 15 to 40. Statistics showed that youth associations are beginning to decline. This was evidently due to inactive registered associations that were terminated by the Brunei Darussalam Association Registrar. It was mainly due to failure to present reports and financial statements during the annual general meeting. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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