General News
Educating youths on role, structure of ASEAN
EFFORTS to promote greater awareness of ASEAN continue in the Belait District yesterday.
Students from various secondary schools, educators, representatives of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and government officers in Belait District attended a half-day talk titled Brunei Civil Society Forum on ASEAN Organisation.
Held at the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) building in Seria, the event was jointly-organised by the Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM), Belait Youth Association (PEMBELA), South East Asian Committee for Advocacy (SEACA), as well as Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (Forum-Asia).
This forum is the third series and the last of the workshops on ASEAN Awareness organised by the MKM in 2013. Present as the guest of honour was Belait District Officer Hj Haris Othman.
"This programme is intended to create awareness on ASEAN Organisation and the human rights mechanism within. As we all know, this year is Brunei's chairmanship, therefore it is imperative that Bruneians are more aware of ASEAN structure and the mechanisms within ASEAN," said Datin Paduka Hjh Intan Hj Mohd Kassim, president of MKM, in her welcome remarks.
Datin Paduka Hjh Intan said that due to the half-day nature of the event, speakers are not able to go into great details, but it is hoped that the basics materials given will be there as a starting point in the learning process.
Atikah Rumaizah Dr Hj Harun, president of PEMBELA, said that the collaborative efforts of all the parties concerned in the event have the same beliefs that creating awareness among the youth is essential towards the development of one ASEAN community.
"I perceive that this forum is a platform for the youth in Belait District to (develop) outside the box where they could venture across the sea, walk through borders and connect through networking in search of knowledge, experience, understanding variety of culture and beliefs while evolving a sense of belonging and finally to form unity among ASEAN Society," said Atikah Rumaizah.
"It is a fact that we have to endure and not to ignore whereby evidently, there are a number of youngsters who are not even familiar with ASEAN society and unsure of their roles as a citizen of a country that is a member of ASEAN," she said.
The workshop among others aim to contribute to the education and awareness of civil society in Brunei during its chairmanship this year. The Brunei Times
Additional Information
Country: Association of South East Asian Nations
Website: http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2013/05/25/educating-youths-role-structure-asean
Email: N/A
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Source: The Brunei Times
When: 03/6/2013
