Noor Hafizah binti Haji Rashid

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Starting Point

In 2015, Noor Hafizah binti Haji Rashid founded the Big Begawan (BigBWN) Project, an initiative that focuses on empowering youth, women, and entrepreneurs through community development efforts in Brunei Darussalam. In 2020, she was recognised as a YSEALI Hero after raising donations for essential supplies to support frontliners  and launching both an initiative and a Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at helping  small businesses (SMEs) and those whose incomes were impacted  by COVID-19. Her Big Begawan (BigBWN) Project was appointed to conduct training on digital literacy and business in Brunei Darussalam for the ASEAN-wide initiative that aims to train 200,000 individuals through a US$3.3 million grant from Google’s philanthropic arm Google.org under the Go Digital ASEAN initiative.

Peace Journey

Her work focuses on youth and community development, particularly through the Big Begawan Project, which encompasses various initiatives aimed at empowering women and youth. One of the key programmes is the Brunei Womenpreneur Network, where platforms are provided for women entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and grow. They also run initiatives like Women Innovation Brunei and the Young Entrepreneur Project, focusing on equipping women with the skills they need to succeed in business and become more self-reliant.

The Big Begawan Project’s notable recent work is a collaboration with the ASEAN-Korean Cooperation Fund, where they train women in digitalising their businesses. This initiative helps women develop financial independence by teaching digital marketing, business planning, and financial management. Through programmes like Go Digital, they have reached over 600 women across rural and urban areas, helping them leverage digital tools to enhance their businesses. Many of these women are breadwinners, and this programme equips them to provide for their families while reducing reliance on government assistance.

For youth, the Big Begawan Project conducts capacity-building initiatives in schools, teaching leadership, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship. Programmes like ’Belia Pintar Cyber’ focus on educating children about cyber safety, disinformation, and responsible digital citizenship. These initiatives aim to address emerging challenges, particularly in the digital era, while fostering independence and resilience among young people.

Success Stories

Noor Hafizah believes that women bring empathy, resilience, and lived experiences, which make them effective leaders and mentors. For example, by mentoring women entrepreneurs through programmes like IDEAS, she helps them develop the confidence and skills needed to navigate the challenges of running a business. Their success inspires others and creates a network of support that benefits the entire community.