LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, SATURDAY, 23/11/2019 - The Brunei Religious Officers Student Association (BruROSA) had recently held the annual Kem Ibadah , for three consecutive days,Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 15th until 17th of November 2019 for Bruneian students studying in the United Kingdom and Ireland at Brunei Hall, London with its theme, ‘The Reconnection:Restoring Your Iman Network’.

Kem Ibadah is an annual religious camp held in the United Kingdom organised by BruROSA for Bruneian students in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The main objective of this camp is to​ motivate the students to strive for success not just in their academic studies but, also in the understanding of the religion. A total of 74 students including the BruROSA members were gathered at Brunei Hall, London.

The opening ceremony was held on 16th of November, where Her Excellency, Pengiran Hajah Rooslina Weti binti Pengiran Haji Kamaludin, the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam in​ the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland attended as the guest of honour.
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The chairpersons for this year’s Kem Ibadah is Mohammad Harith Syafiq Bin Mohammad Halim from University of Nottingham and ‘Afifah Binti Haji Mat Dani from University of Bath. Muhammad Aqil Bin Awang and Nur Arina Binti Haji Hamidun from Cardiff University are the camp commandants for the male participants and the female participants respectively.

The event began with the recitation of surah An Nisa verses 36-38 by Ahmad Zakwan Bin Haji Mohd Salleh from Imperial College London, followed by the translation by Abdul Halim Bin Anuar from Loughborough University. The highlight of the day was the amazing race which took place at Hyde Park, where groups of participants compete in various games. The rest of the day was filled with meaningful indoor activities including ice breaking sessions and quiz on Islamic Events.On 17th November 2019, participants gathered at the prayer hall for their Subuh prayer and later on had a small forum and a feedback session between the organisers and the participants.

The chairpersons and camp commandants gave their farewell speeches and held a small gift exchange between all participants. Nur Shahirah Binti Haji Bakar from University of Edinburgh, representing the female participants mentioned “I have learned about how ukhuwah can be very rewarding to ourselves if it is Lillahi Taala. Friends can be the ones who can help bring ourselves to Jannah. It is our responsibility to take care of each other and remind each other of Allah.” in her speech at the closing Ceremony.​

CARDIFF, SATURDAY, 09/11/2019 - Brunei Students Society Cardiff (BRUSCA) has organized their annual "Homeless Day" in conjunction with the "Maulidur Rasul". BRUSCA have chosen the day of Maulidur Rasul to implement this charitable act or ‘sadaqah’ to revive the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad S.A.W (Peace be Upon Him), while also strengthening the bond between the Bruneians in Cardiff. The purpose of 'Homeless Day' is not only to help the people who are in need but also to ensure that the students appreciate the 'rezeki' that they receive in their daily life. This day teaches the students the importance of giving as they have first-hand experience to realize the small impacts made by them would create a big difference in other people’s lives.
 
On this day, BRUSCA members have volunteered to distribute the food towards people who are in need, which can be found within Cardiff City Centre area. 50 packs of food and water have been prepared by the committee and packed in non - plastic containers, to promote the 'Go Green' Initiative.
 
The event started after the Zuhur prayers, where they meet in the City Centre. The students were into four groups, spreading themselves to different parts of the area to distribute the food. Each group brings around 10-15 packs of food and drinks. The distribution of food lasted from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm. The remaining 10 packs were donated to the Al-Manar Centre.
 
In the evening, the former Brunei Religious Officers Student Association (BruROSA) president, Muhammad Aqil bin Awang lead the Isya Prayers, which was held in Cardiff University Students Union Building. Afterwards, BRUSCA members were able to enjoy the hearty food that they have brought for the event, which preceeded by playing a game of 'Kahoot'. The theme for the Kahoot regarding the history of Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. (Peace be Upon Him). The event ended with a session of 'Nasyid' that was performed together by the students.
 
This event and celebration have reminded the students about the teachings of Islam. The act of generosity in giving food towards the poor would help strengthen the moral values that we all possess, thus, improving ourselves for the better. 

UNITED KINGDOM & EIRE, TUESDAY, 12th NOVEMBER 2019 – Maulud Nabi is the observance of the birthday of Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), which lies on every 12th Rabiulawal on the Islamic calendar (9th November 2019 for this year). This is a momentous occasion which gives us all an opportunity to reflect on the history of the Islamic Faith and strengthen relations between ourselves as students a long way away from home. Bruneian students across the United Kingdom & Eire have had their respective celebrations in this regard, organised by their respective societies.

Brunei Glasgow Society 

Brunei Glasgow Society (BruGlas) held an event on 9th November 2019 which began with Maghrib prayers, followed by Tahlil, Isya’ prayers, recitation of some verses from the Al-Quran, as well as the recitation of Dzikir Marhaban Syarafil Anam. Food was never forgotten, as society members had lovingly prepared dinner consisting of various dishes, namely: homemade nasi lemak with sambal, salmon teriyaki, bingka susu, and Scottish macaroons.

Brunei Southampton Society

Brunei Southampton Society (BruSton) also held an event on 9th November 2019, which consisted of mass Maghrib and Isya’ prayers, followed by their bi-monthly Tahlil, as well as the recitation of Dzikir Maulud. The event ends with a hearty dinner of Bruneian food.

Brunei Newcastle Society

Brunei Newcastle Society (BruCastle) had the privilege to celebrate Maulud Nabi with their Malaysian counterparts on the 8th November 2019. The event was held in the ETAL room, Newcastle University Student’s Union. The event proceeded with the recitation of Dzikir Maulud and ended with a hearty potluck dinner.

​BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, TUESDAY 20th August 2019 – The Brunei Students Union (BSUnion) collaborated with the Brunei Religious Officers Student Association (BruROSA) to hold a two-day outreach programme at Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan (MSPSBS) on the 19th and 20th of August 2019, themed “Author of Your Future: Creating Your Own Storyline”. There were a total of 210 upper-six students who participated on both days, led and facilitated by members of the BSUnion, BruROSA, and other Bruneians studying in the United Kingdom and Eire. Teachers were also in attendance, with more emphasis on teachers in the careers section of MSPSBS.
The programme aims to provide a safe space for students to express concerns about their future, and helps them realise the potential that lies within. It also encourages students to reflect on and pursue their own career pathways, while instilling motivation by reminding them of their significance in shaping the future of the nation.
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Day 1 (19th of August 2019) began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Muhammad Iqbal bin Emran (General Secretary of the BSUnion), and continued with an opening remark from Mohammad Harith Syafiq bin Mohammad Halim (Religious Secretary of the BSUnion and President of BruROSA) explaining the roles of BruROSA and the BSUnion as student bodies representing Bruneian students in the United Kingdom and Eire. The day continued with an ice-breaking game, a warm-up session, and finally the ‘Amazing Race’ event. The ice-breaking game, ‘Finding Nemo’ helped students feel more familiar with each other, while the warm-up session led by Ak Mohd Faiz bin Pg Mohd Suffree (Head of Social Events of the Brunei Hall Student Committee) helped them physically prepare for the ‘Amazing Race’ itself. The five checkpoints for the race consisted of activities geared towards helping students realise the importance of teamwork and communication, and to improve themselves in that regard.

Day 2 (20th of August 2019) began, again, with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, and proceeded with three talks provided by Ahmad Syauqie bin Hj Satia (Human Resources Officer of the Society for Community Outreach & Training, Universiti Brunei Darussalam), Ak Mohd Faiz bin Pg Mohd Suffree, and Dk Nurin Nabeelah Pg Hj Abu Bakar (Vice President of Administration and Finance of the BSUnion) titled “Looking Through a Different Pair of Eyes”, “Not Too Late”, “Not Your Own Author” respectively, touching on different aspects of student life and insights on excelling in the professional arena. The winners for the ‘Amazing Race’ were announced soon afterwards, which included a short discussion on various lessons learned from the activities organised. This was followed by a sharing session within small groups in which students could voice out their concerns, while senior facilitators address them and comfort worried students. The event came to a close with the presentation of a Token of Appreciation from MSPSBS to BruROSA and the BSUnion; given by Miss Ani Suryani and Cikgu Huzaimi to Dk Nurin Nabeelah Pg Hj Abu Bakar.

The event was very well-received among the participating students, who were very receptive throughout both days. The students commented that they found it incredibly valuable for their future endeavours and that it helped them gain further insight into what lies ahead after the completion of their ‘A-levels’. They also mentioned that it has motivated them to do better for the upcoming exams. Teachers in attendance also found the programme to be quite helpful and were very pleased with the students’ engagement throughout.
The final sixth-form centre on the Outreach Tour is Sekolah Menengah Sayyidina Ali, which will take place on Thursday, the 22nd of August 2019.

​BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, TUESDAY, 06/08/2019 - The Brunei Religious Officers Student Association (BruROSA) had recently held a summer break project, Unsung Heroes, on two consecutive days, Sunday and Monday, 4th and 5th of August 2019 at the parking area of Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque with its theme, ‘Diamonds in the Rough’.

Unsung Heroes is an annual charity drive organised by BruROSA which focuses on the construction workers around the city. This charity drive is all about giving back to these hard working heroes around the city, and would hopefully raise public awareness of the less fortunate and also to promote safe migration in the country.

A total of 15 members of BruROSA were gathered at Masjid Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah parking area on Sunday morning, 4th August 2019, where food and drinks are received from different sources. The event continued on the following day, starting at as early as 6 in the morning, this time with 21 volunteers. They started by receiving food donations and then packaging and distributing them afterwards. At 11.30am, the volunteers allocated themselves into 4 groups, going to 10 different construction sites, where lunch packs were given to about 345 workers in total. Some of the construction sites were at Jalan Kampong Salambigar, Sekolah Menengah Rimba and Dewan Kuliah Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

BruROSA is an organisation that liaises between the Bruneian students in United Kingdom and Ireland in terms of religious affairs, and Unsung Heroes is one of its annual events, among many others such as Kem Ibadah, Umrah Tour, Photography and Writing Competitions, which will be held in the United Kingdom throughout the 2019/2020 academic year. We hope that we can continuously hold such worthwhile events in the next following years.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, SUNDAY, 21st July 2019 – The Brunei Students’ Union in the United Kingdom and Eire (BSUnion) held a fundraiser event at Muara Beach on Sunday morning, the 21st of July 2019. The proceeds will go towards funding future BSUnion events.

In attendance were BSUnion members, volunteers, and Bruneian students in higher education – including those studying the United Kingdom & Eire, as well as those in local institutions, namely Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), and Politeknik Brunei. Family and friends were also invited with open arms.

The event showcased various activities, which included mini-games such as a ‘beach bowling’ and a ‘three-legged race’. There were also several stalls selling food and beverages from the “BSUnion Kitchen”, which featured dishes like ‘nasi lemak’ and freshly fried ‘lekor’, drinks such as ‘air longan’ and ‘bandung’, and so much more. Participants were also grouped into their respective institutions and competed in a friendly match of ultimate Frisbee and volleyball that morning. UBD reaped victories in volleyball (female category) and Ultimate Frisbee (mixed), while UTB triumphed in volleyball (male category). Winning groups received goodie-bags containing a variety of snacks and chocolates.

The event continued with a light-hearted game of ‘tarik-kalat (tug of war)’, which was open to everyone present. The day came to a close with a prize-presentation ceremony for the friendly matches of ultimate Frisbee and volleyball, followed by a beach clean-up session after the call for Zohor prayers.

In terms of feedback, participants really enjoyed their day at the BSUnion fundraiser event and found that it was a perfect opportunity to network with students from various backgrounds and institutions.

*Photographs of the event were taken by Batrisyia Adi and Ameerah Kasmirhan, members of The BSUnion Media Team. 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, WEDNESDAY, 17th July 2019 – The Brunei Students Union (BSUnion) collaborated with the Brunei Religious Officers Student Association (BruROSA) to hold a two-day outreach programme at Sekolah Menengah Arab Laki - Laki  Hassanal Bolkiah (SMALHB)  on the 16th and 17th of July 2019, themed “Author of Your Future: Creating Your Own Storyline”. A total of 136 students (69 in Pre-U1 and 67 in Pre-U2) participated in the event, which was led and facilitated by members of BruROSA and the BSUnion as well as other Bruneian students studying in the United Kingdom & Eire.

The programme aims to provide a safe space for students to express concerns about their future and helps them realise the potential that lies within. It also encourages students to reflect on and pursue their own career pathways, while instilling motivation by reminding them of their significance in shaping the future of the nation.

Day 1 (16th July 2019) was blessed with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Abdul Halim Anuar, and then featured opening speeches delivered by Dk Nurin Nabeelah Pg Hj Abu Bakar (Vice President of Administration and Finance of the BSUnion) and Mohammad Harith Syafiq bin Mohammad Halim (Religious Secretary of the BSUnion and President of BruROSA). The students were then split into assigned groups and had an ice-breaking session. This was followed by motivational talks delivered by Dk Nurin Nabeelah Pg Hj Abu Bakar, Muhammad Iqbal bin Emran (General Secretary of the BSUnion), and Siu Tzyy Wei (Toastmasters member, Universiti Brunei Darussalam) titled “Not The Author”, “Real Intention with a Sincere Heart”, and “Still Surviving” respectively, all exploring various aspects of the speakers’ experiences as young adults entering higher education. Facilitators and students then returned to their assigned groups and took part in a sharing session, which allowed students to voice their concerns while also receiving comfort and reassurance.

Day 2 (17th July 2019) was blessed, again, with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Abdul Halim Anuar. Muhammad Za’eem bin Abdul Majid (President of the Brunei-Southampton Society) then delivered an insightful talk titled “Al-Kalam Ad-Doa (Every Word is a Prayer)”, discussing the importance of Faith in what may be described as ‘worldly’ goals. They then proceeded with the main activity of the day: an ‘Amazing Race’ event where students split into groups and compete in performing various tasks, demonstrating lessons surrounding the importance of teamwork and perseverance. One of the emotional highlights of the event was a classic self-reflection activity titled “A Letter to Your Future Self” where students wrote letters to themselves discussing their aspirations, as well as their positive traits and achievements. These letters were sealed, and are to be read five years later. The event came to an end with closing remarks given by ‘Afifah binti Haji Mat Dani (Female Religious Secretary of the BSUnion and Vice President of BruROSA) and Dk Nurin Nabeelah Pg Hj Abu Bakar, followed by the recitation of Surah Al-Asr by Mohammad Harith Syafiq bin Mohammad Halim.

The event was well-received among the participating students, who found the sessions, inspiring and useful for their future endeavours. They also commented that the stories told by the facilitators were interesting and helped them gauge what to expect further along in their journey. Needless to say, the programme was an absolute success, inspiring and motivating the youth towards shaping and developing the nation towards a better future.

​*Photographs of the event were taken by the BSUnion Media Team