Youth Forum Brunei (YFB) brought together over 400 youth from across the Sultanate to the Legislative Council building on Saturday.
Hosted in conjunction with the 17th National Youth Day Festival, the second YFB themed ‘Community Leadership for National Development’ called for youth to participate in community and national development by putting leadership and collaboration centre stage.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad was the guest of honour.
YFB was co-organised by the Young Professionals Network (YPN); the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS); and supported by Brunei Youth Council (BYC) and Curious Mind.
The forum saw two sessions including ‘Community Leadership for National Development – Reflections from our Community Leaders and Former Legislative Council Members’ including BYC President and Green Brunei Co-Founder and Community Engagement Director Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari; Brunei Darussalam Digital Economy Council and APEC Business Advisory Council member Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii; Eco Bumi Arkitek Director and Principal Architect Ar Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman; and Perspective Insan Academy CEO and Lead Trainer, and Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council President Iswandy bin Ahmad.
The forum was moderated by YPN Co-Founder Fatin Arifin and Curious Mind Founder Shaun Hoon.
The second session titled ‘Leadership and Collaboration for Community Development’ aimed at understanding the complexities in addressing the issues and challenges faced by NGOs serving the underprivileged and special needs communities in Brunei.
The aspect of collaboration was discussed in contributing to inclusive and sustainable national development joined by The Impian Project Founder Lailatul Zubaidah binti Haji Mohd Hussain; Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) Youth Wing Co-head Hajah Hamizah binti Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Nor; Community Development Officer of the Community Development Department (JAPEM) at the MCYS Irnawati binti Haji Mahir; and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Chief Marketing Officer Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar.
The session was moderated by YPN External Relations Lead Fadli M Zaini.
“The Brunei Youth Forum aims to provide greater opportunity to the youth to be involved in decision making.
“The strategic partnership with YPN also signifies the strong collaboration between government agencies and youth movements in the country,” said Assistant Head Officer (Youth) at the MCYS Dr Muhammad Nuriskandar bin Mohd Hasnan.
“We are responding to our youth’s call to have a platform to have their voices heard so we positioned the YFB as a platform for authentic dialogue, cultivate healthy conversations that can lead to new ideas and new solutions.
“We hope platforms like these will bring together like-minded young people who are driven to be the change that our nation needs,” said Fatin Arifin.
