Amidst the shouts and squeals, a call for quiet instantly hushes the group of students as they settle in front of their invited guest, U.S Ambassador to Brunei Caryn McClelland, who was present as a storyteller for a special ‘Storytelling at The Water Village’ session held at various schools across Kampong Ayer. This unique cultural experience was designed to inspire young students and foster a love for literature through engaging storytelling, according to organiser The Honey Bn. McClelland was on hand to read The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab and Family (The Proudest Blue) by Ibtihaj Muhammad, to the students. Tina Afiqah, from local publisher Parabelle Studio, also took part to share about character design in a workshop where each student participant contributed to a collaborative book, making them feel like published authors and part of a creative community. The event was proudly sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Brunei.
