Project-2019

As the result of successful implementation of Eco-Schools Programme in Melaka and attributable to the satisfactory outcome, GGAF expanded the programme to other states. The Kedah Eco-Schools Programme was officially launched by the Former Kedah Chief Minister, Dado’s Seri Utama Mukhriz bin Mahathir at the Alor Setar branch of the National Science Centre. The 3-year Eco-Schools programme is organised by the state’s investment arm, Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated, in cooperation with GGAF and the state education department. Consequently, Kedah is the second state that is implementing the Eco-Schools Programme with the aim of instilling environmental conservation awareness among its youth. Through this programme, the schools involved will be able to embark on a new journey towards sustainable development to preserve the environment for future generations.

GGAF collaborated with Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council to conduct the Carbon Literacy Workshop in August and September 2019 for both primary and secondary schools at Dewan Seri Bendahara, Melaka. The workshop was based on two modules which comprised introduction to climate change and carbon calculations, as well as the baseline development. Through the workshop, participating students were able to actively learn about climate change, and gained a lifelong learning experience. With climate change being a real event in the lives of our future generations, equipping the young with knowledge of it must begin now, for them to make informed decisions affecting the planet as an adult.

The Zero to Maker Innovation Competitions project (Z2M) was launched in Kedah (Z2M Kedah) organised by GGAF and Asia School of Business (ASB) in collaboration with Menteri Besar Kedah Incorporated (MBI Kedah) as a partner to support the implementation of the umbrella IE Programme. MBI Kedah represents a highly strategic partner for the successful implementation of the Z2M Kedah. The programme aims to develop innovation and entrepreneurship skills and attitudes of youth living in Kedah and enable them to contribute to the development of the state. Through a series of workshops focused on Making, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Z2M Kedah is designed to be a continuing strategy that provides youth in Kedah with added opportunities to unleash their creative potential. The programme registered 100 students, 20 teachers from 10 schools and moving forward, plans to set up a Zero to Maker Labs and Online Learning Platform, as well as Zero to Maker national competition.

GGAF collaborated with UPM and SK Air Baruk to hold the Malacca State-Level World Water Day 2019 Celebration with the theme “Water For All: Leaving No One Behind”. Launched by YB Datuk Dr Wong Fort Pin, the programme hosted many activities for the school children to participate in including the launch of SKAB’s Rainwater Harvest System Project, an exhibition on water by UPOM and the Eco-Code Competition: Leaving No One Behind. This competitions was also a part of the YRE Malaysia Programme’s initiative to train school children on advocating environmental issues and solutions. A total of 15 schools from all over Malacca participated in the campaign, 7 schools being awarded winners of the competition.

The Young Reporters for the Environment Malaysia Training was conducted at Universiti Putra Malaysia attended by 57 Environmental Health students. The session aimed at raising awareness among the general public on how to take action towards building sustainable and resilient communities. The programme’s 4-step methodology comprises investigation, researchingsolutions, reporting and disseminating of findings. The workshop was part of the session held for participants who registered for the YRE International Competition for the year.

GGAF conducted a beach clean-up event along Padang Kemunting beach. It is the most frequented nesting ground of the hawksbill turtle in Melaka. In Peninsular Malaysia, the shores of Melaka are the most frequented nesting grounds for this species with Padang Kemunting recording the most numbers of nesting sites. Supervised by their teachers, students who participated in the cleanup managed to collect 172.80 kg of trash along almost 4 km of the beach. They recorded the types of trash collected to be uploaded into the Clean Swell database prepared by The Ocean Conservancy. This initiative is a global community movement to monitor the trash collected on beaches around the world with the objective of formulating mitigation methods to further ensure the cleanliness of beaches worldwide.

The Eco-Schools Summit Melaka was conducted on 16th & 17th July with the purpose of providing a platform for schools to work towards achieving Eco-Schools awards and also address bigger sustainability issues within their environment. GGAF collaborated with the Eco-Schools Melaka Committee in partnership with UPEN Melaka to organise the summit. The summit presented engaging educational sessions, showcased scientific studies, ran hands-on workshops and talks from contemporary Eco-Schools experts, granting students an enriched learning environment. Students learned vital skills to create a positive change in their local community, and now are keen to know more, engage and work more on resolving serious environmental issues in the future. A total of 21 schools and 454 persons attended the summit.

The YRE Environmental Pitching provided opportunities to young people to chive out their opinions and take a stand in what they believe in. They were able to connect their passion with the solution to a problem, develop a pitch for their solution, and perform the pitch to an audience. Through this programme, students’ creativity were seen s they performed their ideas invarious ways including public speaking and singing performances. The main topic for this pitching exercise was plastic pollution, the effects and how to mitigate it. There were two categories of selection; the Environmental Pitching and Environmental Pitching for students in Special Education. Overall 6 students were selected as winners.

GGAF partnered with WWF-Malaysia and the Department of Fisheries to conduct The Back 2 Nature – Turtle Camp Programme 2019, that was held in various stages from February to June at the Turtle Conservation and Information Centre of Padang Kemunting and Padang Kemunting beach. Throughout the camp, 300 individuals, 304 students, 33 teachers from 15 primary and secondary schools participated. They were exposed to sea turtle conservation efforts in Melaka focusing on the endangered hawksbill turtle species that come to nest along the beach. The participants learned the effects of plastic pollution on turtles and marine ecosystems, and became more aware of the usage of environmental friendly products and public littering issues. Studentsbecame interested in conservation and aspired to pursue marine biology and conservation looking into the health of marine ecosystem and marine debris management. The camp also featured Turtle Talk Session by WWF-Malaysia staff enriching the participants knowledge on the issues faced by sea turtles around the world. Participants visited the Turtle Pond to observe adult hawksbill and green turtles in rehabilitation. Finally, to commemorate their experience, students performed a poem recital during the Turtle Appreciation session.