5 May 2022, Petaling Jaya: World Environment Day is a worldwide platform to inspire positive change for our planet. This year, themed #OnlyOneEarth, it highlights the need to reset the balance with nature through transformative changes in how we eat, live, work and move around - a notion that we carry for the past 50 years of conservation work in Malaysia.

WWF-Malaysia's conservation effort has evolved from building awareness to transforming individuals into sustainability champions. We work tirelessly with government agencies, businesses, communities, NGOs, and individual supporters to achieve this goal. Engaging youth is also one of our pillars to continue shaping a future where people and nature thrive together.

By preparing young people with skills, knowledge, and confidence in their abilities, we will create a generation of empowered youth that support long-term sustainable development. We have organised many programmes, including the Eco Champion Awards, where we celebrate inspiring young Malaysians for their outstanding commitment to conserving the natural environment.

In the 2022 edition, five groups and one individual were given seed grants to carry out their eco projects. Before embarking on the journey, we provided upskilling programmes in digital marketing, project management, and design thinking hosted by industry experts. While it's essential to provide our youth with opportunities, they should also be equipped with the necessary skills to ensure their projects excel.

Passionate about urban river conservation Syuhada, a Ph.D. student from the University of Malaya (UM), led a project to learn about microplastic and antibiotic pollution at Sungai Keroh, Segambut. Together with other UM researchers and Hara Makers, they analysed the river water samples, did river cleaning and conducted a community awareness programme as a holistic approach to protecting water resources.

We also awarded Chia Dane and Li Lin Lein, research assistants from Sunway University, who piloted a study on university students' knowledge about food waste segregation and management. The students were asked to bring their household food wastes for two weeks and were taught about composting. The duo successfully concluded the study with guidance and support from many partners.

Another Eco Champion Kelab Belia Prihatin led by Luqman Nur Hakim, ran the We Be-Leaf Together campaign that encouraged the B40 community to plant fruit trees to battle malnutrition among kids. While students from Sri Bestari Private school - a Green-Flag Eco-Schools hosted a series of exciting activities to educate their friends about climate change.

We created this platform in 2017 because we believe that young people are capable of anything they put their minds to when supported. Therefore, no matter how small or large their contribution to our environment, they should be rewarded. Our Eco Champion from Penang is the walking proof of this statement. Nur Sakinah and her friends mobilised communities to donate old clothes, plastic items and used cooking oil to be recycled. This initiative received an overwhelming response from residents all over Penang.

Our final Eco Champion hails from Klang, Theiviya Lakshmikandan. Supported by three other team members, their work focused on combating the food crisis through exciting activities with high school students. It’s crucial that our youth engage their networks and talk about pressing environmental issues that will affect their future. They can be a driving force to make the most effective transformation of the world into a better place for all.

A lot is being said about engaging youth to implement the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development, but this has to come with guidance and support. The avenues we provide must create opportunities to develop skills, and we must recognise contributions made by our youth. WWF-Malaysia is proud of all the eco champions for going beyond their boundary to make a massive impact on sustainability and well-being within their communities and beyond, after all there’s #OnlyOneEarth for us to live.

Luqman Hakim from Kelab Belia Prihatin ran a campaign that encouraged the B40 community to plant fruit trees to battle malnutrition. Photo © Farisha Zainol / WWF-Malaysia

Syuhada, led a project to learn about microplastic and antibiotic pollution at Sungai Keroh, Segambut. Photo © Farisha Zainol / WWF-Malaysia

Dane and Li Lin piloted a study on students' knowledge about food waste segregation and management in Sunway University. Photo © Dane Chia / WWF-Malaysia

Theiviya Lakshmikandan and three team members focused their work on combating the food crisis through exciting activities with high school students. Photo © Theiviya / WWF-Malaysia

Nur Sakinah and her friends mobilised communities to donate old clothes, plastic items and used cooking oil to be recycled. Photo © Farisha Zainol / WWF-Malaysia

Students from Sri Bestari Private school - a Green-Flag Eco-Schools hosted a series of exciting activities to educate their friends about climate change. Photo © Farisha Zainol / WWF-Malaysia

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