YRE Symposium and Award Ceremony 2024 at Sunway University
Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Symposium and Award Ceremony 2024: Empowering Youth to Lead in Sustainability Selangor, Malaysia – 3rd October 2024 – The Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Symposium and Award Ceremony 2024 brought together over 300 students to celebrate the next generation of environmental leaders. The event was hosted by the Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF) and supported by a number of key stakeholders such as Sunway University, The Datai Pledge, and SDSN Asia. Aiming to inspire the young reporters, this event encourages the students to take an active role in sustainability initiatives while recognising the outstanding contributions to environmental reporting through visual imagery competition (i.e. poster and videography). From the left: Dr Balamurugan Ratha Krishnan, Datuk Ir. Ts. Dr. Mahadi Mohamad, Dato’ Sri Mustapa bin Mohamed, Associate Professor Dr Izian Idris. The YRE Symposium launched with the talk from experts in the environmental reporting industry. The series of talks began with a presentation by Ms. Winnie Wong, who explored the power of environmental photography in sustainable marketing. Her session highlighted how impactful visuals can strengthen consumers’ emotional connections and engagement to eco-friendly brands– which she deemed crucial for these young reporters to apply for marketing strategy especially the environmental friendly branding. The symposium ended with a talk from Mr. Irshad Mobarak, the Chief Advisor of The Datai Pledge. He captivated the audience with his talk on “Lessons from the Rainforest” and suggested for us to look for the environmental solutions embodied by the rainforest ecosystems. He also emphasised that nature produces no waste and we should be mindful of it, saying:“Live within your means as much as possible. Save, spend what you have and do not go beyond what you need. Spend your children’s future.” Associate Professor Dr. Izian Idris, Head of the Department of Marketing Strategy & Innovation at Sunway University continued the session with a welcoming address– encouraging the students to lead in the environmental efforts. She was also appreciative of the efforts of launching the YRE symposium, stating:“I think we have a very good response from the students and I’m very happy that my team is helping a lot with this, especially Dr. Munerah. Sunway University is looking forward to extending this competition every year.” The symposium concluded with the much-anticipated YRE Award Ceremony, where distinguished guests, including Datuk Dr. Mahadi Mohamad, Director of Green Growth Asia Foundation, and Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed, Distinguished Fellow of SDSN Asia. They offered remarks on the significance of youth involvement in environmental reporting. Dr. Mahadi highlighted how young leaders—through their passion and reporting—can drive real change toward a sustainable future. The event also featured a video presentation on Jeli and Taman Eko Rimba Lata Kijang, showcasing important local environmental initiatives. The highlight of the ceremony was the Prize Presentation Ceremony, where the winners of the Young Reporters for the Environment 2024 competition were honoured. Dato’ Sri Mustapa Mohamed together with Datuk Dr. Mahadi Mohamad presented the awards, recognising the remarkable efforts of these young reporters in raising awareness and advocating for sustainability. The YRE Symposium and Award Ceremony 2024 stands as a powerful reminder of the role that youth play in shaping a sustainable future. Through initiatives like YRE, these young reporters are not just documenting the environmental challenges we face but are also driving the solutions that will create a better world for generations to come. Media Contact:Green Growth Asia Foundation (GGAF)Nor Alya Khairina Binti Mustafa AnuarMedia Communications and Green Education Programme CoordinatorPhone Number: +60 18 375 7972Email: alya.khairina@greengrowthasia.orgWebsite: https://www.yremalaysia.my/ // https://greengrowthasia.org/ This event was made possible with the support of key partners committed to promoting sustainability and environmental education. Huge appreciation to Sunway University, The Datai Pledge, and SDSN Asia for supporting YRE Symposium and Awards Ceremony 2024. About the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) Programme:The YRE programme is an international initiative that empowers young people to investigate environmental issues and promote solutions through various forms of media. The competition encourages creativity, environmental stewardship, and critical thinking among students. Facebook Instagram Linkedin Youtube