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BAG
in the News
25th
March 2007
Reach For The Stars, Apsah Tells Women
Bruneian women have come a long way and are definitely poised to take greater responsibilities and leadership positions in ways that can nurture nation building.
Puan Apsah Haji Abdul Majid, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, talked about the promising potential of Bruneian women today, noting the growing number of women excelling in various fields.
In a speech as a special guest speaker at the International Women's Day event organised by BAG Networks held at Orchid Garden Hotel yesterday, she said that "not only can we women do, but we can do better".
Puan Apsah advised women to nurture and direct their daughters in the right direction as "education is the key driver to advancement".
She stressed that Brunei has more than 1,000 male teachers and more than 3;000 female teachers.
More than 174 women have been awarded overseas scholarships, as compared to 166 men, she said.
Twenty women and seven men have been sent to do their masters programme and rounded off with medical scholarships that selected all females.
With these statistics, the role of females in Brunei has intensified to become more empowering and ultimately puts Bruneian women as the frontrunners in becoming Brunei's future leaders.
"Reach for the stars," urged Puan Apsah.
In her closing speech, she recited an email entitled "Why Women Cry", concluding that "the beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes because that is the doorway to her heart - the place where love resides".
BAG Networks brought together some 100 guests from the government and private sector at the Orchid Garden Hotel yesterday in celebration of International Women's Day.
The purpose of the event was to gather women together to share experiences and raise collective awareness of ~ the challenges women face in their workplace and beyond.
This year's theme carried out the message of community development, entitled "The many ways that women influence and shape the community".
The stress on community development was to ensure that women unite, network and inspire each other to make significant changes to our community. All 52 staff of BAG Networks participated in the event which began with an introduction by Wee Wan Chin, Customer Services Manager of BAG Networks, who stated that "we are committed to encouraging each other in achieving goals".
Datuk Dr Jemilah Hj Mahmood, President of Mercy Malaysia, the keynote speaker who is also an active advocate of humanitarian aid and has served in conflict regions of Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq and North Korea, then addressed the women in the room.
"The greatest use of our life is to use it on something that will outlast it," said Dr Jemilah, who is the first woman to have received the "Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award" by More house College USA for her contribution to community development and peace advocacy.
She admitted that she came to Brunei to challenge the women to "come out of your comfort zone".
She urged women to take action rather than just stating the problems. "We carry the solution. The solution is us:"
Dr Jemilah also revealed that there has been a move to start a similar organisation like Mercy Malaysia in Brunei.
A brief video footage of her work experiences was shown.
The event was jointly sponsored by Royal Brunei Airlines, Orchid Garden Hotel, Women Business Council and Folec Communication.
Courtesy of The Brunei Times
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