Funds for green education

SMK Taman Melawati receiving RM15,000 to reduce the school’s energy and water use through better technology and behaviour change.

SK Telok Panglima Garang and SMK Taman Melawati in Selangor have been awarded RM30,000 in seed funding towards sustainability.

The grants were from Green Wira Programme (GWP) organised by Zero Waste Malaysia (ZWM) in collaboration with Axiata Foundation and endorsed by Selangor Education Department.

Between March, when the grants were awarded, and July, both schools will be carrying out sustainability projects on their campuses.

This aligns with the goal of the GWP pilot project in encouraging the development of two Zero Waste Schools in Malaysia.

Between October 2023 and January 2024, GWP trained 50 educators from 30 Klang Valley schools through structured online modules, expert-led webinars, a physical bootcamp and customised coaching.

This is believed to have impacted over 33,000 students.

Out of the pilot cohort of 50 educators, Khuzaimah Zaaim from SK Telok Panglima Garang and Rosmira Ramlee from SMK Taman Melawati won seed funding of up to RM15,000 per school based on the project proposals they submitted.

Over the following three months, a Waste Recovery Facility will be set up at SK Telok Panglima Garang.

Khuzaimah said they aimed to make this facility an environmental education hub for students, staff and the surrounding community.

SMK Taman Melawati will focus on reducing its energy and water consumption by using energy-efficient technologies and influencing behaviour change.

“I’m very excited about these two projects.

“Both educators excelled during the GWP learning phase and have strong high-level school support, which is imperative for any school-based project to succeed,” said ZWM Education Programme manager Irene Chooi.

“We received many promising proposals from our pilot cohort educators and are excited to help them explore their ideas.

“We are still working closely with our GWP educators by providing informational support and access to subject experts to encourage them to keep going.”

With a total of about 3,500 students from the two schools, ZWM’s seed funding and guidance marks a huge step forward in fostering a deeper understanding of the Zero Waste principle among the young.

To further the goal of building Zero Waste Schools in Malaysia, ZWM is currently seeking sponsors and partners for the GWP 2024-2025 cohort.

Interested parties may contact [e-mail]

Established in 2016, ZWM is a non-profit and community group based in Malaysia, pushing for sustainable development and aiming to increase public awareness of sustainable living.