Eight scouts from the Sultanate were commissioned as members of the International Scout Volunteer Group (ISVG) at a ceremony in the capital on December 11.
The event began with a keynote speech from ISVG executive member Haji Janaidi bin Haji Gunong, who welcomed ISVG President Dr Dikpal Keshari Baidya from Toronto, Canada. Dr Dikpal, who attended the 5th Brunei Darussalam National Jamboree, is a member of the invitational programme.
Haji Jainidi highlighted ISVG became a professional scout organisation under the United Nations (UN) in 2020, during the global COVID-19 crisis. ISVG, initially named PELUPURI, was founded by scouts from seven countries, including Dr Dikpal, Dr Vinutthaput Popet from Thailand, Raul Hernandez from the United States, Vida Kotarac from Serbia, Mounir Chaoui from Tunisia, Ashraf Osman Nsr from Egypt and Shige Takahashi from Japan.
ISVG has grown to include 73 member countries, with Brunei joining in last year.
Brunei was invited to share its experiences in the scouts volunteer role during the COVID-19 operation in the country. ISVG, guided by its vision, aims to promote scouts’ volunteering as a transformative force in local communities at national and international levels.
The commissioned individuals from Brunei Darussalam ISVG Patrol are Haji Janaidi as chief commissioner, Major (R) Idris bin Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Haji Othman as deputy chief commissioner, Haji Mohd Sufian bin Haji Abdul Karim as commissioner, Pengiran Dr Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Damit as director, Haji Ariffin bin Haji Sulaiman as deputy director, Khartina binti Mohd Hamir as secretary and Haji Abdul Nuin bin Hassan as executive member.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the ‘Founder President ISVG Medal of Honour’ by ISVG President Dr Dikpal to Haji Janaidi as Chief Commissioner Brunei Darussalam ISVG Patrol Team followed by a closing prayer. – Lyna Mohamad
