I wish to make a difference.

 I want to be able to help those who need help the most, those who only have very little to survive. I wish to help those who are suffering in poverty. Not just by one, or two people but by the masses. Not anywhere else in the world but in my own country, Brunei Darussalam. Specifically families and individuals suffering from poverty.

 I have recently started a team, made up of Brunei’s own concerned youths, calling ourselves the Sounds of Hope (SOH).

 Recently, my team and I visited the homes of Bruneian families in poverty in all the four districts and what we found was disheartening. There are families that need immediate help and these families seem to have been overlooked by the Bruneian community at large.

 My friends and I got a glimpse into their living conditions and into their lives. Through speaking with members of the impoverished families, we found out what these families needed and realised what actions can be taken to give them immediate help.

 This initiative is also a response to a Titah made on March 4, 2008 during the opening ceremony of the first meeting of the fourth session of the Legislative Council by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, where the monarch expressed his desire for the country to achieve zero poverty rate by 2035.

 I became aware of the lack of an organisation in Brunei to help those suffering from poverty. So my friends and I feel that we need to take the first step to address this issue.

 One of the ways that we feel we are able to help is by organising a charity concert to raise funds to help these families. To help ease their financial burdens and improve their daily living conditions.

 The Ministry of Home Affairs has approved this charity event and it will be held on October 3, 2009 at the Jerudong Park Amphitheatre.

 For the event, we have already found the dancers and singers who have contributed their time and energy to help make this concert a success. These performers are all local youths and the songs they will be singing and dancing to are all locally written, composed and produced.

 Now, with the support of the Brunei Women Business Council, the preparations for the event are underway. But, we face one major problem.

 Funding.

 We need the money to pay for the event’s expenses and whatever that’s necessary to make this event happen. We have evaluated the event and found that the budgeted cost for the entire event comes to an estimated B$75,000.

 I know that we can seek for sponsorships to fund the event but I feel that, by spending the sponsor’s money on the event would be a waste, especially when 100 per cent of that money can go to charity. If 100 per cent of the sponsor’s money and 100 per cent of the donations collected can go straight to the those who need them, and not a cent is used to pay for any expenses, then it will be better to these families.

 Besides that, we will have to work very hard to not only get enough funds to cover the cost of the event but to raise enough to help these families.

 This is the reason why I am applying for the $100,000 wish. With this wish award, I will not only be able to make this event a reality but I will also be able to help these families suffering from poverty. I am certain that with this event, we will be able to raise more than what my team and I can imagine. And I promise that 100 per cent of what’s raised will go into helping these families. Just to see this fulfilled, will make my team and I feel that every ounce of our effort put into this event was worth it.

 On top of that, if I get this wish granted, I assure you that the rest of the award money will be saved for future charity drives to continuously help those suffering from poverty. I aim to create awareness among citizens of Brunei on the issue of poverty and to show them that there are people among us who are suffering from poverty and it is our responsibility to help each and every one of them.

 This is where I feel the BIBD’s wish campaign is the best opportunity for us to meet the needs of the event and the needs of the Bruneian families in poverty.

 With BIBD’s help, we can not only make it a successful event but a wish come true.

  - Zero poverty rate by 2035 -

I want to help achieve His Majesty’s vision