1. Environmental talk for Form 4 science students in SMK D’sara Jaya
© WWF-Malaysia
Environmental Awareness Educational Talk
Early September last year, one of our pilot schools (SMK Damansara Jaya) invited me to give talk for the Form 4 science students. Woo I can’t believe that the students know so much about WWF the work we carry out in Malaysia. When I questioned them, they said that they Google a few days earlier to get all the information. Response from the kids during and after the programme was excellent and many have expressed their willingness to help in any WWF-Malaysia’s future merchandise sales or signature campaigns.
Every year Faculty of Education in USM organize “Young Scientist “ programme for secondary schools in the northern region. This programme is more student centered, in the sense that they have to go out to collect data, interview selected people involved, video filming and finally report presentation.. One of the secondary school in Nibol Tebal, invited WWF-Malaysia for a talk on fire-flies as the project they selected for final presentation. I attended the symposium in USM and to my surprise the students somewhat used my framework on fireflies but added their own flavor to give more punch on fireflies found in their own backyard in Krian river. Their Power-Point presentation was good with lots of animation and useful information on local fireflies (Picture 2)
Headmistress Puan Mary knew about the WWF-Malaysia’s mobile unit since she was an ordinary teacher in the Tamil Convent school in Seremban in early 90s. When she was promoted to be the headmistress of the Tamil Methodist School in Ipoh, she wanted the upper primary pupils to be exposed to the present day’s environmental problems –Climate Change. Based on the request, my talk was more centered to green house gas and global warming. The teachers were very enthusiastic to play their role in reducing carbon footprint. Do you know !!, this single story Tamil school is very special because it’s the only school in Malaysia that the entire building is build using steel and iron only without cement and planks.
Will anybody sacrifice a Saturday evening do a presentation for 6 pre-school kids? Yes that is exactly what I did for one of the pre-school centre in SS 2, Petaling Jaya. The esposed kids were around 4 to 6 years, but the way some ask me questions in English was an eye-opener for me. One 5 year old kid ask me how he and his family can help WWF-Malaysia? My hairs stood to its end when I hear such questions and I am sure when I was his age, I wouldn’t have such deep thinking. This is a proof how young minds can be natured to love nature at this tender age. I am very sure such actions will bear fruits for WWF-Malaysia in years to come.
