Hard at work: Students scrubbing grease and residue from the drains.
THE term “wishy-washy” typically carries a negative connotation, but “Mr Wishy Washy” – a youth volunteer initiative – is anything but that.
The ongoing project, launched last December, has seen Keningau Vocational College (KVC) students in Sabah take part in school drain cleaning efforts using eco-enzyme cleaning agents they prepared from fermented fruit pulp and peels, with the help of a microorganism solution.
Their efforts earned them a gold award at the International Creative Innovation Idea Contest organised by the MN Network on Jan 24.
The project – whose name was inspired by a storybook character obsessed with keeping farm animals clean – was the result of a collaboration between KVC and Keningau Nature Farm founder Jason Wong Kok Ming, whose agricultural company applies organic practices in agriculture, fisheries and animal husbandry.
“In this project, we introduced Mr Wishy Washy (the cleaning product) to address grease buildup and unpleasant odours from school canteen wastewater that flows into drainage systems,” Wong, who developed the microorganism solution, told StarEdu.
“Even with oil traps in place, grease and smells still occur. This is where we maximise the effectiveness of microorganisms, which digest oil residue and help eliminate odours,” he explained.
Beyond the environmental cleanup, Wong said the project exposed students to “entrepreneurial thinking” – from understanding production costs to recognising the market potential of a niche product.
“This field opens opportunities in developing products that are uncommon in the public market,” he said, adding that the idea of volunteering is to mobilise individuals to work as a team not because they are told to, but because they understand why it matters.
The project team, comprising eight students, initially tested the product’s effectiveness by using it to clean the canteen drains and dining hall for a month.
“I was surprised by the students. They did not hesitate when asked to clean the drainage. They organised themselves, coordinated tasks, and worked independently.
“Even though the work was dirty, they did it willingly. They cleaned every corner of the drains, and their commitment impressed me as an outsider,” Wong shared.
This hands-on experience, he added, helped build self-belief among the students through a cycle of trial and error: trying, observing results and improving the process.
But for Wong, the project is about teaching the value of time.
“We encourage them to engage in something physical and meaningful, instead of spending hours on games or social media,” he said.
After observing how effectively the initiative removed stubborn dirt and unpleasant odours from concrete drain surfaces, the team opened up opportunities for others to join the project, according to a press release.
“Thirteen new volunteers from KVC joined to learn how to produce the eco-enzyme cleaner. They participated in scheduled cleaning activities using the product and documented their work during the holiday period.
“The team also presented the project at an online conference last December and received certificates of recognition as presenters,” it read.
The project marked the second collaboration between the same group of students and Wong, who had worked together on a campaign sponsored by Yayasan Telekom Malaysia to reduce and manage food waste from June to September 2025.
Moving forward, the team plans to make the product more appealing, create commercial packaging, and eventually bring it to market.
KVC director Lumang Anak Lang commended the students for carrying out an initiative that has had a positive impact on the environment as well as on students’ character development.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1. What are some eco-friendly ways to make your school cleaner and greener? Discuss in small groups and share one innovative idea with the class. The class will then vote on the most innovative idea to carry out together.
2. There are many causes that need volunteers — from cleaning drains and planting trees to helping animals and tutoring younger students. Choose one cause you would take up and explain why it matters to you.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
