Bandar Seri Begawan - The Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has initiated the SMS Brunei Prihatin for the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans, DANA, covering the years 2023 to 2024. This program, along with the Presentation of DANA Contributions in the Form of Coupons to Purchase School Stationery and Necessities for the DANA Orphans 2023, was officially launched at the Yayasan Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan on the morning of December 16th.
According to radio Television Brunei, the SMS Brunei Prihatin for DANA Project is designed as a convenient way for the public to make contributions towards the welfare of orphans. The launch event highlighted the community's growing commitment to the care and support of orphaned children. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health and Acting Chairman of the DANA Board of Trustees, was present to inaugurate the SMS Brunei Prihatin.
The program also featured the distribution of special coupons to over 2,900 orphans registered with the DANA Secretariat. Each orphan received a coupon valued at Seventy Dollars, redeemable for school stationery and necessities. The coupons are accepted at 24 designated companies and can also be used in schools under the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs, as well as private educational institutions. Notably, 12 of these companies have pledged to contribute 5 percent of the coupon sales back to DANA.
Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Setia Dr. Dayang Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh, Minister of Education and a member of the DANA Board of Trustees, handed over these contributions to the District Officers. The 'SMS' Brunei Prihatin Project, aimed at fostering a culture of support and attention towards the orphans, is set to run for a duration of 9 months.