Sabah students deliver winning pitch

Wat-er idea: The Boleh Bah Kalau Kau 2.0 team members posing with (standing, from left) Low, Azureen, Tuanku Zara Salim, Education Ministry’s chief assistant director Dr Rodiah Idris and Goh during the YCMA prize-giving ceremony in Kuala Lumpur.

KUALA LUMPUR: A proposed project to deliver clean water to rural communities in Tamparuli, Sabah, secured top spot in the group category of the Young Changemakers Awards 2017 (YCMA) for a team of students from SMK Tamparuli.

“This is a pleasant surprise. We didn’t think we could beat the other finalists.

“Winning the award will further inspire us to develop our project to solve the water woes of the more than 2,000 villagers there,” said Boleh Bah Kalau Kau 2.0 (BKK) group leader Arico John, 16, after the prize-giving ceremony yesterday.

The YCMA, initiated in 2015 by Pertubuhan Kendiri Wanita dan Gadis, recognises children, between the ages of six and 15, for their courage, resilience and inspiring contributions to make the world a better place. The awards are in conjunction with World Children’s Day on Nov 20.

Seri Kembangan-based student Andrew Kuik Joe An, 12, and 13-year-old Ellysha Sashvinaa Nair from Kajang won in the individual category.

Andrew raised funds to buy a piano for his school, Nexus International School Malaysia in Putrajaya, while Ellysha created Zoogle, an educational interactive app. They each walked away with RM2,000.

A special mention award and a RM1,000 prize went to the Makan Sampai Habis group, comprising members of the Interact Club of SJK (T) Kajang. They created a campaign to increase public awareness of food wastage.

Ten finalists presented the causes they championed, including technology and innovation, environment, community development and the arts.

YCMA received 60 nominations from students across the country.

It was held in partnership with Pusat Kanak Kanak Kreatif Tuanku Bainun, the Education Ministry and engineering, property and infrastructure company Gamuda Bhd.

The awards ceremony was graced by Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim; Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak Tuanku Bainun chairman Raja Datuk Seri Azureen Sultan Azlan Shah; Yayasan Gamuda head Goh Khir Chaye; and Pertubuhan Kendiri Wanita dan Gadis founder and president Low Ngai Yuen.