YOUTHS in the country should step up and take the lead by using organisations and associations as a way for them to develop themselves and the country, said some locals yesterday to The Brunei Times.

"Youth organisations here (in Brunei) are still lacking the youth to lead, hence sustainability is a challenge,"said Iswandy Ahmad, Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living and Secretary of the Aids Council.

Also a member of the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association, Datalish Adventure volunteers and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation volunteers, Iswandy emphasised that youths in the country need to prove their worth, not just by following, but by meaningful participation.

He added that youths also need capacity building in order to enhance their skills to empower themselves. "Work with youths, not work on them," he stressed.

Iswandy added that while studying is good academically, it should be combined with good governance in youth activities as it will raise their self-worth.

This is in line with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's titah in creating youth intellectuals, he said.

"Channel their (the youths') energy, idea and passion correctly and insyaAllah, we will have youths as strong as Sayyidina Ali, the forthrightly guided Caliph."

The active participant of local youth organisations further emphasised that youths also want and need to be heard. "Listen to our ideas, guide us," he said.

Furthermore, he said that young people work best with other young people. "You do not ask a clerk to cut wood, you ask someone who knows how to do it well — a lumberjack. It is the same with youths, only a young person knows another," he said.

A senior lecturer from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Dr Asmah Morni said: "Youth organisations benefit the members whereby they can express their ideas and serve as ambassadors of Brunei, such as in the Brunei Nippon Maru Association."

Zulhilmi Rambli, a communications officer at an oil exploration and production company, said that participating in organisations and associations are a good platform for youths to understand and get involved in solving current issues.

"Now that I am working, I do not really have time to join any organisations or associations," he said.

Dk Nurul Hanani Pg Suhaimi said that a lot of the local youths are unaware of the various activities facilitated and organised by the Youth and Sports Department.

"I think the activities are beneficial for survival skills. It also encourages youth development so as to ensure the future development of the country." (RSH1)