Dayangku Najibah Eradah binti Pengiran Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri (born 20 May 1983),"Gema Takbir Idul Adha Bergema di Antartika" Voice of Al-Islam, December 1, 2009 also known as Brunei’s Polar Girl, is a teacher and environmentalist, who is the first Bruneian to have reached the South Pole.
South Pole expedition
Era and seven other woman, each from a different Commonwealth country, were selected from among over 800 candidates to take part in the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition, which reached the South Pole on 29 December 2009."Women complete 562-mile ski journey to South Pole", Los Angeles Times, December 31, 2009"First Cypriot to reach the South Pole" , Cyprus Mail, January 1, 2010 Explaining her participation in the expedition, she said: "I am passionate about environmental issues and hope to use my involvement in the expedition to raise awareness in Brunei of global warming and climate change".Era Al-Sufri on the official website of the Kaspersky Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition
Bruneian media described her achievement as "a historic day for Brunei and a momentous day for the Sultanate's women". Saiful Ibrahim, Vice president of the Brunei Adventure Recreation Association, described her as "an icon for all Bruneians, especially for women and our youths"."Era Becomes First Bruneian To Reach South Pole", Aziz Idris, BruDirect, December 31, 2009 She has become known in Brunei as "the Polar Girl"."Polar Girl makes history" , Brunei Times, December 31, 2009"Era Becomes First Bruneian To Reach South Pole", Aziz Idris, BruDirect, December 31, 2009 Bruneian businesswoman Halina Taib stepped in to fund the trip, after there were financial difficulties.
Personal life Era's father, Pengiran Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri, is a distant member of the royal family, while her mother, Pengiran Hajah Basmillah binti Pengiran Haji Abbas, is a diplomat. Additionally, she has an uncle and granduncle who maintain a close relationship with the royal family; respectively they are Pengiran Anak Idris and Pengiran Anak Kemaluddin. Formerly a mathematics teacher in secondary school, Era became a government officer at the Bruneian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade."Women daredevils for Antarctic Expedition", Times of India, October 26, 2009
Recognitions and awards Youth Outstanding Merit (2010)
See also Antarctic ice sheet
References