In conjunction with the International Women’s Day celebrated annually on the 8 March, the Community Development Department (JAPEM) of Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports (MCYS) organised a forum together with Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB). The forum was in collaboration with various government agencies and non-governmental organisations such as the Women’s Council, the Women Graduates Association of Brunei Darussalam (PSW), Brunei Youth Council (MBB), and women advocates.
The forum commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Haji Mohammad Asyraf bin Md Ali, from the Department of Community Development, JAPEM.
It was then followed by the forum entitled ‘Self Care: You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup’ moderated by Dr Malai Zeiti Sheikh Abdul Hamid, Assistant Professor of Centre for Communication, Teaching and Learning (CCTL) from UTB. The panelists of the forum include Dayang Irnawati binti Haji Mahir, Community Development Officer, Head of Counseling and Volunteer unit, JAPEM; Dr Hajah Asmah binti Haji Husaini, Assistant Professor at Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD); and Dayang Rasyidah Samah, Founder, Facilitator and Head of Support of Ohbabybean (Postpartum Mental Health). The forum concluded with a question-and-answer session.
The objective of this forum which was to give women and the public an insight of self-care while living in the new norm, embedding spiritual care to achieve self-stability in various positive ways, encouraging the importance of mental health as well as raising the awareness of it, and to strengthen the family bonds to form a better communication.
