By Nurdiyanah R. –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 6 OCT – Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam’s Program to Support Lifelong Learning for a Visionary Future (BIBD ALAF) continues to be an initiative to change the lives of students throughout Brunei, supporting their academic journey so as to enable them to continue their education to higher education and achieve meaningful career.
In conjunction with celebrating Teacher’s Day in this country, BIBD also did not miss out in highlighting some ALAF scholars and alumni who shared how this program, together with the guidance of their respective teachers, successfully shaped their future.
Michelle Wong Su Heng, a graduate of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) this year with a Bachelor’s Degree in English Studies, is currently working as an English teacher at Chung Ching High School.
He recalled how the BIBD ALAF program had changed his life by sharing that he had been a part of the BIBD ALAF program for almost 10 years, and never once did BIBD ALAF fail to help him financially in his educational journey.
In conjunction with this Teacher’s Day, he also had the opportunity to express his gratitude to all the teachers who taught him while at Muhammad Alam Elementary School, Anthony Abell College, Sayyidina Ali Secondary School and UBD.
In the meantime, he also hoped that current ALAF students would always remember to practice and express their gratitude to individuals who have extended help. “What is important, I hope they will continue to excel in their studies and make BIBD ALAF proud!”
Meanwhile, Dayang Nur Hafikah binti Haji Bakri who is a graduate from Al-Azhar University, Cairo, in 2022 majoring in Islamic Sharia, is also another inspiring alumni of the BIBD ALAF program.
He who is currently a Shariah Research Officer in the Shariah Division of BIBD shared that since joining BIBD ALAF, it has helped him in his studies up to the degree level.
Dayang Nur Hafikah explained that BIBD ALAF has taught many things through the programs they run and workshops that help her develop new skills where she doesn’t have to worry about school requirements because BIBD ALAF provides everything she needs all this time.
“I would like to wish Happy Teacher’s Day to all the teachers out there. I want to thank all the teachers who teach us, support us with all the efforts they have given, to provide a better education for us. For the sake of a brighter future, teachers shape who we are now,” he said.
Other new graduates of the BIBD ALAF Program include Hong Hui Qin, who graduated from Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) in 2023 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and is currently working in the oil and gas sector; and Awang Hazmi bin Haji Juli, who is also a UTB graduate in 2023 majoring in Civil Engineering and is currently participating in the i-READY program at an engineering firm.
Dayang Siti Nurul Izzah Adila binti Arfian, a BIBD ALAF scholar currently studying Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) at Monash University, Australia, expressed her gratitude for the role BIBD ALAF played in shaping her academic journey.
Another ALAF scholar who is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and Management Science at the International Islamic University of Malaysia, Awang Mohd Firdaus bin Mohd Salleh, among others, expressed his gratitude by explaining that BIBD ALAF has contributed a lot to him so far, including financial support, tuition and school needs .
