“IT’S a small step, but one step closer to greener Brunei,” said Jerudong International School (JIS) student Sidharth.
A teenager with a passion in comedy, Sidharth accumulated every single dollar he earned from performing comedy shows at various places including India to make a contribution to Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei.
When the money was sufficient to buy a solar panel, he approached President of SMARTER Brunei Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman to express his interest of lighting up two Portacabins at SMARTER Brunei with solar energy.
“We need a young generation like Sidharth,” said Malai Haji Abdullah.
“I am glad that a student in his youth has come forward to help us in such a unique manner. I hope we can make our whole building powered only by green energy in the near future with the help of well-wishers. This will help reduce the burden of electricity bills for SMARTER Brunei to a great extent. Due to this reason, I have engraved this young man’s name on the panel for others to emulate his ingenuity and kindness,” he added.
SMARTER Brunei is going to power up their soon-to-be-opened Bistro with an extension which will be set up in two weeks’ time.
At the present time, the bakery at SMARTER Brunei Autism Centre for Adults (BACA) Gift Centre in Kampong Sungai Hanching is fitted with Sidharth’s solar panels.
Several companies have been inspired by Sidharth’s action and have stepped forward to contribute towards installing more panels.
“Our dream is to run our SMARTER Brunei centres with 100 per cent solar energy in the future to help reduce the electricity bills and bring us one step closer to a greener Brunei,” Malai Haji Abdullah added.
