KOTA KINABALU: For 19-year-old Siti Nur Hanisah Omar Hashim from Papar, a simple childhood pastime has evolved into a movement for education and sustainability.
Inspired by the pollution she witnessed near Kota Kinabalu, Hanisah founded Mearpet, an initiative that turns fabric waste into hand puppets for storytelling and learning.
Currently pursuing Early Childhood Education at Keningau Vocational College alongside her brother Omar Hishammudin, 17, Hanisah has always been passionate about upcycling.
Her youngest sibling, Omar Hassanuddin, 16, is studying automotive technology at the same college.
I have always been passionate about upcycling since lower secondary school. Living near Kota Kinabalu, I often saw plastic waste polluting waterways, which inspired me to take action. When I moved to Keningau Vocational College, I launched Mearpet, an upcycling initiative that transforms discarded fabric into educational puppets,"" she said.
Mearpet started as a way to reduce fabric waste by upcycling old clothes and soft toys into puppets for underprivileged children. The initiative gained traction, and the college soon became a collection hub for pre-loved clothes and stuffed animals, receiving over 200 tonnes of donated materials.
Hanisah and her peers turned the project into a social enterprise, creating novelty items and educational tools while promoting sustainability.
They use upcycled hand puppets to engage children in storytelling sessions that feature Indigenous folklore and environmental awareness.
The project has reached over 120 primary school students and has been featured at community events to promote sustainability and creative education.
Popular stories like Tambuakar (The River Dragon) and Mekau Serin (The Werecrocodile and the Healer) teach children valuable lessons and help preserve Sabah’s Bajau and Brunei heritage.
Working on Mearpet has given me a deeper connection to my cultural roots. It has been an enriching journey to explore the traditions, languages, and stories of my ancestors and share this heritage with younger generations,"" Hanisah said.
Beyond education, Mearpet champions inclusivity by involving students with disabilities as trainers in puppet-making workshops, empowering them with new skills and creative opportunities.
Mearpet’s impact earned a USD500 (about RM2,000) YouthMADE Festival Amplify Grant from the US-based Digital Promise association, helping Hanisah expand the project as an emerging social enterprise.
For Hanisah, Mearpet is more than just a creative outlet; it is a testament to the power of imagination and sustainability.
Puppets bring stories to life, but they also carry messages that can shape young minds. I hope this project continues to inspire children to dream, create, and care for their environment," she said.
