The Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam celebrated their 60th anniversary yesterday at the Hassanal Bolkiah Indoor Stadium in Berakas. Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha, as the royal patron of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association, consented to grace the event.

Also in attendance were Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Zariah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah, as the president of the association, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and YAM Pengiran Anak Hariisah Widadul Bolqiah.

Attending to welcome and greet the royal entourage were Hjh Siti Hafsah binti Haji Abdul Rahim, Chief Commissioner of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association and senior committee members.

In her welcoming remarks, Hjh Siti Hafsah said, "Her Majesty's presence at this event shows Her Majesty's concern on the activities and development of the girl guides association. This also gives more strength for the association to move forward and continue organising valuable activities for the importance of the younger generations in the association especially in Brunei and members of the world association of girl guides and girl scouts as a whole."

Throughout the event, members of the association from Sekolah Ugama Arab Menengah Perempuan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit and Sekolah Rendah Serasa entertained the guests with tausyeh and nasyid performances.

A special performance from the Girl Guides Association Brownies of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah School also enlightened the event, which saw YAM Pengiran Anak Hariisah Widadul Bolqiah, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's granddaughter taking part in the performance.

The highlight of the event was the appearance of a popular nasyid group from Malaysia, Raihan.

In conjunction with the 60th anniversary celebration, the Girl Guide Association has arranged many programmes and activities including a bazaar sale which was conducted last December and the mass prayer as well as a recital of the surah yaasiin and Ratib al-Attas that took place on January 30.

Aside from that, a forum on volunteerism, national camping, post card drawing competition and an international cultural exchange programme will be held throughout this year. The main objectives of organisng these activities are to educate girl guides members to be more proactive and determined in organising valuable and charitable activities. - Borneo Bulletin (7th February 2011)