Teen gets conservation award

KOTA KINABALU: A teenager’s effort to save the marine environment in Sabah has bagged him the Bronze Award of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award 2020 which is given out to recognise young people involved in conservation.

Harvisanth Singh, 14, a Form Two student at SMK Peter Mojuntin in Penampang, is always driven by keen interest to protect the environment.

Showing promise: Harvisanth, the youngest person from Sabah to bag the Bronze Award, stands a chance to become the youngest winner of the Gold Award in 2022.

“Harvisanth is a driven young man with a keen interest in environmental and plastic pollution issues, specifically in the marine ecosystem, ” said his mentor Beh Zeng Kang, a former Gold Award Leader who is inspiring young people to participate in conservation efforts.

“His passion has motivated him to address Sabah’s growing environmental problems, ” Beh said.

To achieve the award, a winner has to address four elements – community involvement, skills learning, physical recreation and adventure – which he participated in and qualified for the Bronze Award.

“Harvisanth is the youngest from the state to win the bronze.

‘’He needs to participate for the silver next year and go for the gold in 2022, that could make him the youngest winner of the award, ” Beh said, adding that the gold award was usually presented by the Prime Minister.

Harvisanth’s mother Monica Chin said she was very proud of her son’s achievement.

An environmental activist herself, Chin is involved in campaigns to save sharks and is the co-founder of Blu Hope, a campaign that aims to protect the world’s oceans.

Chin said younger people were already coming up with creative solutions to tackle the world’s greatest environmental challenges.

“It is to tap into the estimated 1.8 billion youth population worldwide and focus their energy on innovation and creativity to meet the challenges, ” she said.

Chin added that only 3% of the world’s oceans were protected, while overfishing and ecosystem degradation were jeopardising food security, and the rising sea level was endangering the well-being of coastal communities.

“We must give the younger generation an opportunity and attention before it is too late.

‘’They are the ones who will carry on our legacy for the next generation in Sabah, ” she said.