Francophonie Day 2018 was held on Saturday, April 21 at the Mabohai Mall in Bandar Seri Begawan. The day started at 10:00 in the presence of the Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam, Mr. Christian Ramage, the High Commissioner of Canada, Mrs. Caterina Ventura - funding of the event - and the President of the French Alliance of Brunei Darussalam, Yang Di-Muliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah.
The event, the fruit of cooperation between the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and the Alliance Française, was organized by Ms. Ayrine Jammes, head of the French department of the university. Fifty French-language students belonging to the French Metropolitan Club took part in the event.
- The president of Alliance française with some UBD students
Twelve activities, cultural, artistic, recreational and culinary were animated by the students who proposed educational spaces (readings of Bruneian tales in French, gallery of the French inventors, the high tourist places of Paris and Montreal), games (Bingo, the Eiffel Tower in paper Mache, calligraphy, painting), points of sale (French pastries, French books, T-Shirt) or a photo space (photo Booth) with Parisian decor.
Activities were also offered to the younger children, such as a coloring contest or a treasure hunt.
Another highlight of the day was the presentation by the High Commissioner of Canada of a batch of Canadian books in French to the President of the Alliance Française of Brunei Darussalam.
The event, much appreciated by the visitors (about 300 people), lasted until 8 p.m. and was published by the press on April 23rd.