Youth activties must be suited for current needs

YOUTH programmes and activities to be conducted should meet the current needs of young people, said an officer from the Youth and Sports Department.

"This is why we require youth representatives to share their views in initiating various activities and programmes that are sure to attract other youths to join in," stated Hj Abdul Malik Hj Mohammad, head officer of Youth and Sports (Youth Division) under the Department of Youth and Sports during the informal launching of the 3rd B-@ctive Competition at the Youth Centre yesterday.

He said that the rationale behind such a competition was to involve the youth in contributing ideas for any kind of youth activities and projects and to give them an opportunity to voice out their opinions on youth forums, congress and meets.

"Among the aims of organising this competition is also to train and familiarise the participants to adopt a mentality of working as a group on a specific project that has been planned and organised," he added.

He further said that the competition was also a means of teaching the participants to lead and implement projects that are bigger and more challenging in the future. "This programme is also a way for our department to identify youths with the potential of becoming young leaders. These groups will further be groomed into leading their peers."

The B-@ctive Competition, organised by the Youth and Sports Department, represents a working paper and project launching competition that is open to youths nationwide. The outcome of the involvement of previous youth groups have proved that there are outstanding youths who show high commitment in participating as well as running certain youth activities.

The competition hopes to create youths with self identity and can be role models to other youths towards Brunei's Vision 2035. About 21 groups, each consisting of not more than nine members aged 15 to 25, are participating in this year's competition, where they will put forward their working paper's to the department between April 17 to 26.

From June 1 to August 31, they will then be tasked to implement their working papers into actual projects, with themes ranging from community and education to the environment and health.

Gold category winners, meaning the team that gets the highest points based on how well they're working paper and project went, will receive $1,500 as well as a trophy and certificate. Silver and Bronze category winners will be awarded $1,000 and $750 respectively. (AFH1)

The Brunei Times