Youth library club wins group storytelling contest

THE Language and Literature Bureau's Youth Library Services Club captured the hearts of the judges which saw them lifting the champions trophy for the Third Group Storytelling Competition yesterday.

With a score of 74 per cent, the group won for their storytelling entitled "Dursila", while Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien (Soas) College and Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College claimed the second and third spots respectively.

The six-member winning team portrayed a theatrical performance of two brothers' disagreements over land inherited from their late mother.

The announcement was made at a prize presentation ceremony held yesterday at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Soas College's performance depicted a father's love to his children, who are oblivious to the importance of saving and spends wastefully. The comedic performance titled "Making Smart Choices" was greeted with laughter from the audience.

Third placed Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College portrayed parents who lost their only daughter in a loan shark tragedy.

Co-organised by the Language and Literature Bureau and Employees Trust Fund (TAP), the competition was aimed to attract youths in promoting the art of performances that is experiencing a decline due to other competitions.

Open to youths aged 13-22, the competition was one of the bureau's activities to foster a strong reading culture and promote awareness on financial saving.

Themed "Generating a prudent society", the competition saw the teams applying current issues and problems plaguing modern society, including overspending, greed and borrowing money from loan sharks.

"The competition was part of TAP's financial planning activities which have been actively promoted to cultivate saving habits among the young generation," said a press statement from TAP.

In a press statement from TAP, the objective for the collaboration was to inculcate the importance of financial planning at the early stage through annual activities organised by the bureau.

The competition is open to youths, regardless of students, members of youth associations and clubs.

The champions went home with a cash prize of $600, trophies and certificates. They were also awarded with Baiduri Bank's savings account worth $200 each, and gifts from TAP.

Present as guest of honour was Sa Bali Abas, permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office in his capacity as the deputy chairman of TAP Board of Directors.

The Brunei Times