Red Crescent Society seeks to boost its role

Zareena Amiruddin

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, February 27, 2010

THE Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRC) is aiming to boost its role in the Sultanate by revising its strategic plan which include increasing the number of adult members.

BDRC National Director of Development and Training Julaini Latip said one of the main issues on the BDRC's agenda is to increase the number of adult members, perhaps by opening special voluntary divisions of the society meant for adults. Julaini estimated there are some 1,000 BDRC members, and said the participation had been great especially from youths in schools.

"The Ministry of Education has been so supportive and with their new SPN21 education system stresses involvement in co-curricular activities. Their policy is that each student must take up one uniformed activity," he said.

The BDRC was formed in 1997 and recognised by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the international humanitarian movement that aims to protect human life and health as part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the world's largest humanitarian organisation.

The BDRC which will be hosting the Southeast Asia Organisational Development Forum 2010 on March 2 is also looking forward to revise its strategic plan after consultation and sharing of ideas and experiences with 32 other delegates. Julaini said: "Having gone through what's happening outside of Brunei (via the forum), we're going to go forward by revisiting our strategic plan and organising the movement of the society in the local context," said Julaini.

"Once we revisit the strategic plan, we can increase the number of activities. We are going to make use of issues addressed as additional input to expand and enhance our existing activities and existing organisational development," he said.

Asked why people should join the BDRC, Julaini said, "During the 2006 tsunami, the Indonesian Red Cross Society set up a 'family tracing' programme to help those separated to get back together. Why should you join? Because this society is about humanity. Especially taking care and looking after the vulnerable."



Datin Siti Hajar POKSS Dato Paduka Hj Yusof (L), BDRC vice-president and Julaini Latip, BDRC Chairperson Darussalam (2nd L) during the meeting at the Seameo Votech, Gadong, yesterday. Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan

The Brunei Times