THE official launching of the Community Service Programme in conjunction with the celebration of the 4th Community Day by the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association was held yesterday at the association’s headquarters.

Gracing the event was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association, who also launched the programme.

Also present was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, the Vice President of the Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association.

The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Dayang Sarimah binti Haji Ahmad, Deputy Principal of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School.

The national anthem ensued followed by the world song, as well as Asia Pacific Region song, prior to a welcoming remark by Hajah Siti Hafsah binti Haji Abdul Halim, Chief Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam Girl Guides Association.

Hajah Siti Hafsah highlighted that around 50 girl guides from the Girl Guides, Ranger Guides and Young Leaders will be participating in the four-day community service programme.

The community service will include cleaning the house of a single mother who lives in Jalan Muara, Kampong Lambak Kanan Mosque, Makam Sultan Sharif Ali at Jalan Kota Batu, and a Tahlil event. On the last day of the programme, they will also clean up the areas of the Girl Guides Association Headquarters.

Members of the Tunas Puteri will also carry out activities such as handicrafts, biscuits and cookie baking, and others at the headquarters. She also added that a fundraising bazaar sales will also be held on the last day of the programme for the Typhoon Haiyan victims in Philippines.

The ceremony then continued with a performance by the girl guides.

Meanwhile, HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah presented a donation to the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Association, which was received by Major (Rtd) Mohd Talip bin Hj Mohd Tahir, Vice President II of SMARTER Brunei.

The ceremony ended with the recitation of a Doa Selamat read by Dayang Sarimah binti Haji Ahmad. - Borneo Bulletin (3 December 2013)