Bandar Seri Begawan - Five Lower Sixth Form students, accompanied by two chaperones, will be taking part in the 4th Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Programme in the United States for about a month to learn about and create understanding on the issue of raising green awareness.

"Hopefully we can achieve the target of this programme so that they can familiarise themselves with the green concept in Brunei. Basically, the topic that will be discussed is leading a green life ... how we can achieve development of the country yet at the same time still maintaining the greenery in the country," said one of the chaperones, Awang Haji Mohammad Hairol Azaman bin Haji Pungut, Education Officer at Rimba II Secondary School.

The participating students are Awang Ahmad Asyraf bin Haji Lathif of Sayyidina Ali Secondary School in Kuala Belait, Tutong Sixth Form Centre pair of students, Awang Ozzan bin Nisfindy and Dayang Amal Kasibah bte Bahari, Pengiran Tashya Nadia Febriani bte Pengiran Anak Tahiruddin of Meragang Sixth Form Centre and Dayang Nur Farahiyah bte Haji Mohammad Aus of Katok Sixth Form Centre.

The other chaperone is Dayang Nurhafizatul Hikmah bte Haji Serbini, Education Officer at Tanjong Maya Secondary School.

"In a way, the topic given is quite open. You are free to bring what is related to your country and then you can discuss it and maybe develop a programme, an intervention, to help minimise the problems that might arise from this case," he added.

Asked what Brunei will present at the programme, Awang Haji Mohammad Hairol Azaman said that, at the moment, they are focussing and finding out more about air pollution experienced in Brunei.

Pengiran Tashya Nadia Febriani said that the participants will learn about green efforts in a way that helps them design a programme that can crucially benefit the country.

The Southeast Asia Youth Leadership Programme is offered to 60 participants from Asean member countries. The organising body is East West Education Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The trip includes three segments that will identify various contents of the programme during which the participants will experience three cities, namely, Honolulu, San Francisco and Washington DC.