Every year, as part of the contingent’s pre-program assignment, the BPYs are all, as a contingent, required to do some voluntary charity thing (can I be even more vague?) that has something to do with the youth. While last years’ BPYs created a bang with a fund-raising project for SMARTER, this year we took it a notch down with something quieter but equally meaningful, aptly named Project Revival.
Project Revival, basically is a mentoring program, for victimised or fallen youths within Brunei Darussalam. The youths (mostly girls) may have gone through some scarringly traumatic event/events in their lives, such as rape, many forms of abuse, neglect, and such, and were brought in either voluntarilly or by law, either for rehabilitation or protection in any one of the Government-operated rehabilitation centers in Brunei.
The program is actually one of the many great projects by JAPEM, that has unfortunately gone on hiatus, due to insufficient amount of manpower, volunteers and funding. Thus the name Revival does not just apply to the youths we mentor, but also to the program, which is now effectively under revival.
It is aimed at those who have freshly completed rehabilitation programs, as part of their support system, to help them fully integrate back into normal society as strong and confident individuals. It is, reminiscent of the Big Brother Big Sister program and in the long run, we hope to empower these fallen youths to stand on their own. We also hope to create a mentoring cycle, where they may mentor other fallen youths. Amin.
Last Friday, was the inaugural meeting of the Revivers (BPYs) and the Revivees. The BPYs were excited and electrified to say the least, for once to be a part of something bigger than ourselves. 3pm came and we had a turnout of 4 out of 11 girls, a small number, which was assured by a JAPEM representative who came to observe, to be perfectly normal.
The girls were nervous, and scared when they first came. But BPYs are people with charm, and charisma, with the ability to make anyone feel right at home. :) The session involved a lot of icebreaking, and a lot of team building, mostly concentrating on building trust, and building rapport between the Revivers and Revivees.
We sungkai-ed together, after a sungkai-buying errand. An activity which alarmed some of the girls, who were a bit apprehensive of appearing in public. But like how it is with their lives, with proper support from proper channels, they will be strong, and they will persevere.
From the feedback we received from the girls, they had fun, and they were happy. Good job BPYs! Rapport and trust was built, but the future looms ahead saying, more needs to be done. Together we change the world with our hearts, one at a time.
Please click on image to view album.
(Mostly images of the BPYs. Revivees’ images are blurred or erm, not included to protect their privacy)
Article by Maw Maw and photos by Daphne
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