BIBD Empowers Community through Support to Orphans and Academic Achievers

Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), in collaboration with the Department of Community Development under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and District Offices, Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), supported the annual “Presentation of Donation to Orphans in Brunei 2024 & Presentation of Incentive Rewards for Orphan Students in State Examinations for 2023”, held recently at the International Convention Centre.

Present to handover donations to the recipients were Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II, Chairman of BIBD and Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Home Affairs.

Also present were Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries, senior Government officials as well as BIBD’s Managing Director and CEO, Awang Junaidi bin Haji Masri.

This event is part of the holy month of Ramadhan’s series of charitable acts, aimed at providing monetary donations to orphans across all four districts, thus easing some of their burdens and ensuring their joyful participation in the forthcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations. This year, 3,581 orphans registered under the Department of Community Development, MCYS, were the recipients of these donations.

The ceremony also spotlighted the academic achievements of 11 orphaned students who excelled in their 2023 state examinations. With the support of BIBD, these students were awarded incentive rewards, acknowledging their dedication and hard work.
Two Year 6 Exam (PSR) students received B$500 each; six outstanding performers in the STPUB Exam were granted B$1,000 each; one GCE ‘O’Level student was awarded B$800; and two GCE ‘A’Level students were each given B$1,000.00, reflecting BIBD’s commitment to encouraging and rewarding academic excellence among the youth.

Awang Junaidi bin Haji Masri, Managing Director and CEO of BIBD, shared his thoughts on the occasion, stating, “This event is a testament to BIBD’s enduring commitment to our community, particularly the young and vulnerable. For more than two decades, we have been supporting orphans and incentivising academic excellence, as part of our broader mission to empower the community through our CSR initiatives including this annual event. Our actions are guided by BIBD’s Sustainability Framework, which aligns with the Maqasid Shariah and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring that our contributions are not just immediate but sustainable, holistic, and in close collaboration with His Majesty’s Government.”

The longstanding commitment of BIBD to community development is evident in its multifaceted initiatives like National Level Orphans Donations, BIBD ALAF and BIBD SEED, which together foster educational growth and economic empowerment, especially among women and targeted segments. These efforts are integral to BIBD’s Sustainability Framework, which underscores the bank’s dedication to inclusivity, social responsibility and sustainable development, in line with the core principles of Maqasid Shariah and the global agenda for a better world.

By adopting a long-term, holistic approach in partnership with the Government, BIBD ensures that its community-building efforts are not only effective but also sustainable, driving positive change and fostering a spirit of collective upliftment and empowerment.