THE BAN NUA 5.0 PROGRAMME

Not to be missed - a group photo to commemorate the Ban Nua 5.0 Programme

With a theme on "Empowering Community for Development", MISDEV'14 (ISDEV Postgraduate by Mixed-mode) students had successfully organized an empowering program aimed at the grass root level of the Ban Nua community in Thailand. The 3-day-2 night programme ran from 21 November 2014 until 23 November 2014. The Ban Nua 5.0 Programme represents the commitment of ISDEV and the Ban Nua community to forge closer the ties that have been consistently renewed and strengthened annually for the past years.

 

ISDEV Director, Professor Dr. Muhammad Syukri Salleh led the delegates consisting of ISDEV Deputy Director, Dr. Zakaria Bahari, ISDEV Programme Coordinator, Dr. Fadzila Azni Ahmad and ISDEV lecturers Dr. Mohd Shukri Hanapi, Dr. Mohd Syakir and Dr. Wan Norhaniza as well as 35 MISDEV'14 students and four RISDEV (ISDEV Postgraduate by Research Mode) students.

Professor Syukri (centre) with four lecturers from UNISSA, Brunei Darussalam.

In addition to ISDEV members, this year's programme were also joined by four lecturers from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Brunei Darussalam. They are Pengiran Dr. Saiful Bahrin Pengiran Hj Kula, Muhammed Sahrin Hj. Masri, Hajah Nurul Halimatul Wara’ Hj Mumin, and Hajah Rafizah Haji Abdullah.

A member of the Ban Nua community guided ISDEV members on the pronunciation
of some basic expression in the Thai Language.

The programme was packed with useful activities such as “Qiamullail” which started as early at 4.00 am followed by the congregational Subuh prayer. A nasyeed teaching session, pantomime practice, reorganizing the Mini Library of the Ban Nua community, and Thai Language Class were also organized with the cooperation of Ban Nua representatives specially for participation of the programme. 

Make me beautiful the Islamic way - part of the "Comelkan Saya" activity.

“Comelkan Saya" was a programme specially dedicated for the muslimah children of the Ban Nua community that focused on teaching them how to wear hijab in the proper way of Islam. Besides that Islamic cultural performances were also presented to participants by the innocent children of Ban Nua.

Cultural performance by the little Muslimah of the Ban Nua community.

The “Gotong-royong’’, a never-to-be-missed activity was also included in the programme as participants worked together to spruce up the clean surroundings and well maintained Ban Nua Mosque.There was also a friendly futsal match between ISDEV brothers with UNISSA representative playing one team against the Ban Nua community team. The ISDEV-UNISSA team won the match on penalties after both team drew 4-4.

The sisters of ISDEV hard at work during the gotong royong

Dr. Mohd Syakir (wearing a white cap) during the friendly futsal match.

Besides having informal activities there were also two academic programmes consisting of “Dialog Pendedadan Pembangunan Wakaf’ and 'Pembangunan Koperasi Komuniti Ban Nua". Both dialogues were discussed by three panels, ISDEV Director Prof. Muhammad Syukri Salleh, Dr. Zakaria Bahari and Dr. Wisoot Lateh@Tobrani. Naimah Mohd Najib and Siti Rubiah were served as Moderators for the two dialogue sessions.

The dialogue on Pendedahan Pembangunan Wakaf Kominiti Ban Nua . 
(From right to left) Dr. Zakaria, Dr Tobrani, Prof. Syukri and the moderator Naimah.

From the activities that were organized, the participants learned that the Ban Nua 5.0 programme has further strengthened the ukhuwwah between the Ban Nua community, through several initiatives such as in the areas of knowledge sharing and cooperative ownership, management and improvement of mini library, sports and youth culture, and of course of learning the Thai language.

3 representatives - ISDEV, Ban Nua and UNISSA sharing a feeling of blissful contentment after the closing ceremony.

Furthermore participants were also able to develop their knowledge and understanding hands-on on the community's involvement in developing the self-sustaining Ban Nua community. An apt place for one to have on the ground practical knowledge of managing development according to the worldview and epistemological basis of Islam.

Saying goodbye to the Ban Nua community - till we meet again next year, in sha Allah.

ISDEV students are also given the chance to use the Ban Nua community and another community in Malaysia as a social laboratory of ISDEV where development theories built in ISDEV can be tested, published its findings and even produce theses at the Masters and Doctorates levels through the engagement with both communities and empowering them to achieve sustainability.