Red Crescent members to get professional first aid training

Datin Hjh Siti Hajar POKSS DP Hj Awg Mohammad Yussof (L), adviser to the BDRCS Secretariat of Brunei-Muara district, placing a rank badge on Pg Yura Saiful Bahrin Pg Hj Yura Laila.

Datin Hjh Siti Hajar (L) inspecting the volunteers. BT/Rafidah Hamit

RAFIDAH HAMIT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, January 5, 2015

TEN members of the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society will soon get professional first aid training before obtaining accreditation from an international humanitarian organisation.

Sheikh Kadir Abdullah, secretary-general of the Brunei Red Crescent Society, said the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross will send first aid trainers to the sultanate in March.

Speaking during the society’s fourth annual general meeting at Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium yesterday, he said its members previously did not get any professional accreditation.

“Alhamdulillah, it was last year that we received accreditation from the IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies) headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand,” he said.

The meeting also saw the appointment of eight officers for the Brunei-Muara secretariat. Hj Mohd Hilhamd Hj Johari was appointed as director of the Brunei Red Crescent Society of Brunei-Muara.

In his welcoming remarks, he hoped the officers and volunteers will always be committed to help improve the organisation.

“My vision and mission for this year is to maintain existing volunteers and increase the number of volunteers especially in community involvement.”

Present to appoint the members was former president of the society and adviser to the BDRCS Secretariat of Brunei-Muara district, Datin Hjh Siti Hajar POKSS DP Hj Awg Mohammad Yussof.

Other matters that were also discussed during the meeting included reports on training, events and activities, a financial report, and a duty report, which states that a total of 150 hours of duty were provided by the members from August to December 2014.

A total of 1,485 volunteers from 17 schools are members of the Brunei Red Crescent Society.

The Brunei Times

Red Crescent Society goes green

WAQIUDDIN RAJAK

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Monday, May 19, 2014

THE Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) yesterday launched their Green Initiatives Project 2014 at the Taman Jubli Perak in commemorating its 66th anniversary this year.

The president of BDRCS, Hj Julaini Hj Latif (L) and the chairman of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board, Pengiran Dato Paduka Hj Abd Rahman Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Hj Ismail planting a tree together in commemorating the occasion. BT/Waqiuddin Rajak

Members of the Red Crescent Society throwing empty plastic bottles in the categorised bins that will help with the recycling process. BT/Waqiuddin Rajak

Members of the Independent Motorcycle club planting a tree together. BT/Waqiuddin Rajak

The launching of the project also marks the 150 years of humanitarian works by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

The Green Initiatives Project, the first of its kind for BDRCS, is one of the basic programmes for the Red Crescent youth movement and co-organised with the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board.

Among initiatives that were carried out was the planting of trees at the allocated slots in the Taman Jubli Perak as well as the provision of recycle bins to promote organised waste disposal behaviour.

In a statement, BDRCS said that the main objective was to involve youths and volunteers to achieve the country’s aspiration for turning the capital into a “City in the Garden” come 2035, a campaign started by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board back in 2008.

The project hopes to instill awareness among youths to be cautious of the implications of climate change while carrying out intervention works and planning long term conservation programmes to increase the earth’s longevity and a green environment.

BDRCS Public Relations Officer, Ya-Aneta Hj Mohd Yusuf told The Brunei Times that aside from encouraging youths, the project was also held to make an example to other associations and clubs existing in this country.

She said that the BDRCS will, from time to time, ensure that the landscaping in their project would be nurtured and preserved.

The ceremony started with the official launch by the chairman of the BSB Municipal Board, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Abd Rahman Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail followed by the tree plantings at designated spots.

In addition, activity also saw participation from Brunei’s Bikers Associations including the Independent Motorcycle Club and Kekal Motorcycle Association, in support of the Green Initiatives Project.

The Brunei Times

IGS RED CRESCENT YOUTH CADET PLATOON INAUGURATION MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Rafidah Hamit

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, August 28, 2014

THE First International Graduate Studies (IGS) college Red Crescent Youth Cadet platoon was inaugurated yesterday at the opening ceremony of the 10th IGS Anniversary celebration.

First formed on March 1, the platoon, already with more than 20 members, consists of a Special Squad called HADRT (Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Team) and first aiders.

Chairman of IGS’s BDRCS Youth Platoon, Siti Nasyroh Mat Nayan expressed that she feels honoured to be the mandated as the chairman of the first Red Crescent platoon from a private education institute.

“I am happy and proud to be leading and encouraging the students’ to take part in volunteering as well as expose them to knowledge about first aid.”

“Upon joining the platoon, the members had limited knowledge but were very keen to learn and improved a lot after being exposed to hands on experience and training.”

“We have a strong and committed group,” she told The Brunei Times. “I hope more youths will join. We want more youths to join because they will be exposed to useful skills.”

Meanwhile Asma Ahmad Hamizan Amin Hj Mohamad Sultan who was one of the few chosen to be in the HADRT team, said he joined the platoon because he wanted to gain first aid skills.

Sharing his experiences, he said that being a part of the society made him more confident to face emergency situations.

“It’s not just about putting on a uniform, it’s more than that. It feels really good to be able to help and save someone’s life.”

He added that he did not expect to be part of HADRT but was grateful that he was given the opportunity. “InsyaAllah, I will do my best to serve the country.”

Communication Director of the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), Ya-Aneta Wati Hj Mohammad Yusuf said that it is a great pleasure for them that the college approached BDRCS about forming a platoon and hopes that more schools will do the same.

“We are not just hoping schools will join but organisations as well because we need more volunteers.”

Seven members from HADRT and three members from the first aiders of the IGS College Red Crescent Youth Cadet platoon were also conferred with ranks yesterday.

The Brunei Times

Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society serving the community since 1948

Youth Platoon of the International Graduate Studies College (KIGS). The BDRCS’s membership is divided into three main groups: cadets, youth volunteers and general volunteers. Courtesy of Siti Nasyroh Mat Nayan

Brunei Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) Secretary General Sheikh Kadir Abdullah

RAFIDAH HAMIT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, October 16, 2014

THE Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society began life as the Brunei Red Cross Society in 1948 (under the administration of the British Red Cross). But, when Brunei gained its independence from Britain in 1984, its name was officially changed to the Brunei Red Crescent Society (BDRCS).

To best serve society and humanity as a whole, the BDRCS has five departments, said the society’s Secretary General Sheikh Kadir Abdullah.

The Medic Service Department provides first aid services and medical assistance, while the Health Department provides assistance and support for health programmes, particularly on non-communicable diseases.

The Volunteer Department works with volunteers, who are mostly in secondary and higher education, while “the Training Department provides training and curriculum in preparing skilled manpower in various fields, especially in first aid, disaster management and health promotion”.

The Disaster Management Department is responsible for disaster mitigation measures at the local, regional and international stage.

“They will also provide a platform to support and help the work of disaster management, relief management capacity and storage management (warehousing), as well as processing catalogs and movement,” Sheikh Kadir said.

The BDRCS’s membership is divided into three main groups: cadets, youth volunteers and general volunteers.

“The cadet school is made up of students from the Youth Link Cadet and Youth Cadets between the ages of eight and 18. They make up 80 per cent of our members.”

Meanwhile, youth volunteers are aged 18 to 35 and come from various sectors: education, government and corporate.

General volunteers come from diverse communities in the country and are aged 40 and above.

Currently, the BDRCS has over 1,000 members, with secondary school pupils making up the majority.

“We are hoping more people will come forward to join us or just become a volunteer to provide services of not just first aid but much more,” Sheikh Kadir said.

The Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society is not classified as a non-governmental organisation. Instead, it has a special role in accordance with the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam.

The Brunei Times

Indonesian society keen to train Brunei Red Crescent members

Members of the PMI listening attentively to an explanation by a BDRCS member during the informal meeting yesterday at the National Stadium. Picture: BT/Izzan Kassim


President of BDRCS Hj Julaini Hj Abd Latip leading the informal discussions with PMI yesterday. Picture: BT/Izzan Kassim

IZZAN KASSIM

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Saturday, September 27, 2014

THE Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS) is looking to build the capacity of its members by working together with the Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI).

Speaking with The Brunei Times, the President of BDRCS Hj Julaini Hj Abdul Latip said that the Society is looking to form a synergy with PMI so that the two organisations could work together more closely.

He added that BDRCS is hoping to work with PMI on managing youth members and humanitarian aid.

The recent formation of the Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief Team (HADRT) is only the beginning for BDRCS, said Hj Julaini, and that there is still a lot of areas that can be improved upon.

The group is also looking to invite regional specialists, especially from PMI, to give talks and train members in the field of disaster management as part of its capacity building.

Hj Julaini said that PMI is “knowledgeable and experienced” in the field of humanitarian aid and disaster relief, and praised them for their swift response during the aftermath of the tsunami that hit Aceh in 2006.

“PMI acted expertly in mobilising volunteers to help their government and the community during that period,” Hj Julaini said.

“We are planning to work closely together with PMI in the future, and try to get them to conduct trainings or share with us how they mobilise volunteers during disasters.”

PMI arrived in Brunei on Thursday for a three-day visit to the country, and took part in an informal discussion with BDRCS yesterday at the National Stadium.

PMI and BDRCS talked about the structure of their respective organisations and shared ideas on how to improve them.

They also talked about their future plans and how they can help each other to ensure that the programme succeeds.

BDRCS also asked about the possibility of having its members trained by PMI on humanitarian aid and disaster relief efforts.

The Brunei Times interviewed the President of BDRCS and the Chairperson of PMI Jakarta on future collaboration.

The Chairman of PMI Jakarta, Rini Sutiyoso, said last night that PMI is keen to work together with BDRCS, adding that as a neutral organisation that is not tied to any political party, it does not discriminate and will provide assistance regardless of race or religion.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, Rini said that the Jumbara (Jumpa Bakti Gembira), a youth camp for members of any national Red Cross and Red Crescent society, was held recently by PMI in the Jakarta province.

She welcomed Brunei to participate in next year’s Jumbara that is scheduled to be held in Denpasar, Bali.

The Brunei Times

Brunei Red Crescent Society calling for more youth volunteers

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - PRESIDENT of Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRC) Hj Julaini Hj Latif (pictured), encouraged more youth in the Sultanate to participate in their movement as volunteers.

Hj Julaini underscored the importance of joining the Society’s activities as one of the ways to develop an individual’s character and potential as a future leader.

“When we become volunteers with the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society, it is not merely about providing first aid,” he said. He explained that volunteers can contribute in various areas of the activities implemented by the Society.

The activities organised by the Society will build the positive characters of the volunteers.

“As a volunteer, one can be an engineer, doctor, accountant or clerk in our movement,” he said.

Providing first aid is only a part of the Society’s movement.

“It is more about serving the community in all aspects based on the needs of a particular society.”

BDRC is also on the lookout for any international activities held by the International Red Cross Red Crescent relating to health and safety, relief and support activities for vulnerable groups.

BDRC is a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

There are about 1,800 members of the BDRC, dominated by students from various schools, colleges and higher educational institutions.

-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Sertai Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan

Bandar Seri Begawan, Khamis 14 Ogos 2014 - Bersempena dengan Hari Puja Usia Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam yang ke enam puluh lapan, PBSM NBD sepertimana lazimnya telah menyertai Istiadat Barisan Kehormatan hari ini.

PBSM NBD diketuai oleh Pengiran Haji Yura Saiful Bahrin bin Pengiran Haji Yura Laila manakala penolongnya ialah Nora Shahfitri binti Abdul Wahid. PBSM NBD diletakkan di bawah Pasukan Pertubuhan Awam yang diketuai oleh Pegawai Pengawas Pasukan Pertubuhan Awam, Inspektor Mohd Kenny Safwan bin Abdullah Yawang dan penolongnya Inspektor Abd Hafizazuddin bin Haji Abd Wahab dari pasukan Polis Diraja Brunei.

 

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Kenderaan khas yang membawa KDYMM melintas pasukan pertubuhan awam termasuk PBSM NBD (Gambar: Infofoto)

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