Last month, Kuala Lumpur-based Indian student Jarvis Talwar, 13, emailed South Africa's Noah’s Ark Foundation with the intention of donating half his yearly pocket money to its cause of saving animals.
Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to be chosen as its World Youth ambassador.
“I am extremely thrilled and happy. With this selection, I can make a positive impact towards the welfare of animals. I can navigate in a new environment and platform where I can motivate, request and convince people of different generations to step forward and save the environment. My interest is particularly in the welfare of animals,” said Jarvis in an email interview.
Noah’s Ark Foundation is a non-profit project to build a 21st-century ark to preserve every species in the world and help combat climate change. The £5bil (RM29bil) initiative covers 100km of the northeast coast of KwaZulu-Natal, close to the Mozambique border.
Construction of the largest and most ambitious conservation project in history started last year.
Jarvis – the elder of two siblings – didn’t think twice about parting with his savings because he knew the money would be spent on a noble cause.
“Like other kids, my pocket money is precious to me. But I wanted to spend it on something close to my heart. There is a need to save animals, and Noah’s Ark carries a mission to do so.
“Once Noah’s Ark is built, we can stop using the word 'endangered' for animals like the Bornean orangutan, Sunda tiger and Sumatran rhino. The ark will be a place where animals can take shelter,” shared Jarvis, a Grade 10 student at the Global Indian International School in Brickfields.
The Noah’s Ark Foundation co-founder Richard Prinsloo-Curson said Jarvis was chosen for his genuine passion and concern for the planet.
“Jarvis offered half his yearly pocket money to help us build Noah’s Ark. He was persistent in contacting me, and from his persistence, I read the fear he has for the future as climate change unfolds and more animals become extinct.
"Here was a child on his knees wanting to do something to make tomorrow’s world a better place. Here was the natural global youth ambassador for Noah’s Ark Foundation.
“Since Jarvis signed his agreement, he’s been proactive in producing environmental videos for his school. I am forever receiving passionate emails and messages about his work. We are busy working together and planning various aspects of his role representing children of today who will be leading tomorrow’s world,” said Prinsloo-Curson.
Jarvis – who was born in Uttarakhand – has been involved in charity work since young.
Prior to the movement control order, he served as a volunteer at Cheras-based Indian spiritual organisation Radha Soami Satsang Beas where he'd dust, clean and mop the premises.
During the pandemic, Jarvis and his family has been distributing food to underprivileged communities. Jarvis is equally passionate about the environment and protecting endangered animals.
“Every animal has a mum and dad. If there is any instrument on this planet which can measure feelings, surely that magnitude of feelings for animal parents and human parents will be the same," said Jarvis, whose father, Harsachin Kumar, works as a manager in a Shah Alam-based multinational company producing cryogenic gases and liquids.
“My generation today will be world leaders in 20 years from now, challenged with the effects of climate change and a damaged natural world.
"We will be leading humanity on the front line, fighting for our own survival. It will be frightening and more chaotic than the effects felt from Covid-19,” said Jarvis, who has been living in Kuala Lumpur since 2014.
Jarvis, who speaks four languages – English, Hindi, French and Punjabi – thinks children can lessen their carbon footprint by being kinder to animals and the environment.
“I am bold enough to mention that my parents' generation did not take many actions to lessen their carbon footprint. That is the reason global warming and the endangering of animal species happened.
“I would like to give a message to the youth that it’s time to wake up and take bold steps to protect the environment. Take massive action towards conservation of flora and fauna too.
"If we take a positive stand to help build a 21st-century ark in South Africa, we can be sure there is a world for today’s children to inherit tomorrow,” he stressed.
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