Dayang Sunnah showing The Brunei Times the new aluminium roof that has been placed by Walter Boyd and his volunteers. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
Dayang Sunnah showing The Brunei Times two pieces of left over fish that she can now store in her fridge without having to depend on her neighbour's. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
Friday, November 19, 2010
Volunteers have also built her an indoor toilet and bath
AFTER weeks of renovations undertaken by a group of volunteers at elderly Dayang Sunnah Jambol's wooden stilt house in Kg Lugu, Tutong, works have finally been completed and she can even enjoy the convenience of having her own toilet and bathroom inside the house now.
Previously, Dayang Sunnah, 66, had to walk across the road to her relative's house, whenever she needed to use the toilet or take a bath.
Most of the floorboards in the main hall and kitchen area were previously decaying, and the aluminium roof shading the house was rusting and deteriorating.
The voluntary campaign, spearheaded by Walter D Boyd, said it took the group of about 18 volunteers and carpenters 10 weeks to complete the project.
"We completed the project on October 10, and it took us a total of about 10 weeks to complete it, including the prior assessment and evaluation process. However, this was not done on a daily basis, as most of us could only get together and carry out the works on Sundays," he told The Brunei Times.
Boyd explained works that were carried out included the construction of a toilet, replacing and installing floor boards in the kitchen, replacing the roof on top of her kitchen, and even replacing some of the floorboards in the main hall of her house.
He added the group of volunteers even constructed a drain beneath her house so that water flowing down from the hill behind could now flow into the drain, and then into the main drain.
"The construction of a drain was also carried out so that water will not stagnate under her house. I am pleased to note that the government has undertaken the construction of a main drainage system, which passes through her house and surrounding areas. Once the drain is fully operational, then there should be no problem with flooding under her house as well," Boyd said.
Last Thursday evening, a doa selamat and get-together was held at her residence to celebrate the completion of renovation works.
Boyd said, "A good number of people attended and we were very pleased that the village head also came and expressed his personal thanks to the group for work undertaken. During the informal gathering at her house on October 11, the group was touched because Dayang Sunnah said at least she could now invite her friends over."
He added the volunteers were "very happy" they were able to execute the project without any major obstacles.
"We will continue to keep our ears open for such cases in the future, and if we do come across any, we will make it a point to evaluate the problem and raise help," he said.
Boyd also relayed this appreciation to the Loughborough Students Union Brunei Society, Borneo United Sdn Bhd and Hj Azis from Sengkurong for their help throughout the project.
"Without their help, the job would have taken us a little longer to complete. To our group members, I would like to say that with determination and commitment, almost anything is possible. Let this pioneer project be the first of the many more that we hope to see," he said.
During a visit to Dayang Sunnah's residence yesterday afternoon, she said, "I feel very happy for all the volunteers who have helped me. They have worked very hard."
She explained with a newly constructed toilet in her house, she did not need to walk across the road to her relative's house to use theirs anymore. "Now it is very easy for me because I have my own toilet in my house."
The 66-year-old added with a brand new fridge in her kitchen area, she is now able to store her fish in it.
"Last time when I bought fish, I had to put it at my neighbour's house.
"But now syukur alhamdullilah, I have my own fridge," she said, adding she was grateful for whoever the volunteer was who bought her the fridge.
In previous reports, they said she had to walk about two kilometres to a bus station from her house to get to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha hospital (Ripas) thrice a week for dialysis treatment, due to kidney failure.
Dayang Sunnah has been undergoing dialysis treatment for the past 15 years.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
AFTER weeks of renovations undertaken by a group of volunteers at elderly Dayang Sunnah Jambol's wooden stilt house in Kg Lugu, Tutong, works have finally been completed and she can even enjoy the convenience of having her own toilet and bathroom inside the house now.
Previously, Dayang Sunnah, 66, had to walk across the road to her relative's house, whenever she needed to use the toilet or take a bath.
Most of the floorboards in the main hall and kitchen area were previously decaying, and the aluminium roof shading the house was rusting and deteriorating.
The voluntary campaign, spearheaded by Walter D Boyd, said it took the group of about 18 volunteers and carpenters 10 weeks to complete the project.
"We completed the project on October 10, and it took us a total of about 10 weeks to complete it, including the prior assessment and evaluation process. However, this was not done on a daily basis, as most of us could only get together and carry out the works on Sundays," he told The Brunei Times.
Boyd explained works that were carried out included the construction of a toilet, replacing and installing floor boards in the kitchen, replacing the roof on top of her kitchen, and even replacing some of the floorboards in the main hall of her house.
He added the group of volunteers even constructed a drain beneath her house so that water flowing down from the hill behind could now flow into the drain, and then into the main drain.
"The construction of a drain was also carried out so that water will not stagnate under her house. I am pleased to note that the government has undertaken the construction of a main drainage system, which passes through her house and surrounding areas. Once the drain is fully operational, then there should be no problem with flooding under her house as well," Boyd said.
Last Thursday evening, a doa selamat and get-together was held at her residence to celebrate the completion of renovation works.
Boyd said, "A good number of people attended and we were very pleased that the village head also came and expressed his personal thanks to the group for work undertaken. During the informal gathering at her house on October 11, the group was touched because Dayang Sunnah said at least she could now invite her friends over."
He added the volunteers were "very happy" they were able to execute the project without any major obstacles.
"We will continue to keep our ears open for such cases in the future, and if we do come across any, we will make it a point to evaluate the problem and raise help," he said.
Boyd also relayed this appreciation to the Loughborough Students Union Brunei Society, Borneo United Sdn Bhd and Hj Azis from Sengkurong for their help throughout the project.
"Without their help, the job would have taken us a little longer to complete. To our group members, I would like to say that with determination and commitment, almost anything is possible. Let this pioneer project be the first of the many more that we hope to see," he said.
During a visit to Dayang Sunnah's residence yesterday afternoon, she said, "I feel very happy for all the volunteers who have helped me. They have worked very hard."
She explained with a newly constructed toilet in her house, she did not need to walk across the road to her relative's house to use theirs anymore. "Now it is very easy for me because I have my own toilet in my house."
The 66-year-old added with a brand new fridge in her kitchen area, she is now able to store her fish in it.
"Last time when I bought fish, I had to put it at my neighbour's house.
"But now syukur alhamdullilah, I have my own fridge," she said, adding she was grateful for whoever the volunteer was who bought her the fridge.
In previous reports, they said she had to walk about two kilometres to a bus station from her house to get to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha hospital (Ripas) thrice a week for dialysis treatment, due to kidney failure.
Dayang Sunnah has been undergoing dialysis treatment for the past 15 years.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
No comments:
Post a Comment