Young Changemakers initiate projects that benefit the community

Arico John (right) and Boleh Bah Kalau Kau group members working on the Easy Pipe Filter water filtration system in Tamparuli, Sabah. Photo: SMK Tamparuli, Sabah/Young Changemakers 2017

Whenever it rains in Tamparuli, Sabah, student Arico John shudders to think about the aftermath. It’s ironic but heavy rains will result in dry pipes in their homes. “Debris, dried leaves and twigs clog up the main pipes of our water source from Sungai Tamparuli. It blocks the water supply to our villages, leaving us without water for days,” says Arico, a Form Four student from SMK Tamparuli.

After a heavy shower, some villagers from Tamparuli have also found slugs and baby snakes slithering through their water pipes. “It is hard to imagine the condition as almost everyone in Peninsular Malaysia has clean water supply. But in certain parts of Tamparuli, villagers still rely on gravity water feed systems for water. Our water pipes are usually clogged, especially during rainy months in November and December.”