Full focus: Lee briefing his pupils on the Snacky Box initiative.
FOR months, pupils at SJK(C) Serdang Baru 2 in Selangor have been breaking old habits by using metal cans instead of single-use plastic to purchase food during recess.
After eating, they dutifully wash their cans for reuse the next time, leaving the rubbish can free of any sign of plastic.
Driving the initiative is the school’s vice principal and head of student affairs Joshua Lee Kin Wai.
Having observed how easy it was for pupils to discard single-use plastic packaging after snacking, creating significant waste daily, Lee set about implementing a plan.
“I wanted to reduce the amount of rubbish in the school and instil a behavioural change in pupils. Therefore, I started ‘Snacky Box’.
“My goal is to make SJK(C) Serdang Baru 2 a plastic-free school,” Lee told StarEdu.
His idea was brought to life through the Green Wira Programme (GWP).
Launched by the non-governmental organisation Zero Waste Malaysia (ZWM), it aims to empower local teachers to build zero-waste schools.
A free sustainability education programme for primary and secondary school teachers, GWP offers a combination of online modules, physical workshops, and on-site project support.
Its pilot cohort, which began in 2023, included over 1,400 schools in the Klang Valley and engaged 50 educators through its online course.
Among them, three schools – SK Telok Panglima Garang, SMK Taman Melawati and SJK(C) Serdang Baru 2 – collectively received seed funding totalling RM45,000 to support their project implementation last year.
Asserting that sustainability is more than a buzzword, ZWM Education project manager Irene Chooi emphasised the urgent need for children to be exposed to sustainability and become well-versed in it.
“Because of their unique position as mentors and trusted sources of information, teachers are best poised to train their students in sustainability.
“But how can they be expected to teach something they don’t know? That’s why GWP is so important. We empower teachers, so that they can empower their students,” she said.
To a greener future: Khor (far right) participating in ‘Plant a Tree Day’ at her school.
She added that it is not only the seed-funded schools that benefit from the programme.
“We continue to support our alumni teachers who have not received seed funding but want guidance to implement sustainability projects in their schools,” she said.
Despite not receiving seed funding, Tenby International School Setia Ecohill has carried out multiple projects, including a gardening programme, a composting project and a rainwater harvesting system.
It has also initiated recycling projects each term, covering everything from plastic and paper to metal, used cooking oil and textile waste.
The school’s deputy head of secondary (STEM) and sustainability programme lead Dr Khor Mey Chea said students actively collect recyclable items, which are then sold to recycling centres.
Both Lee and Khor agree that shifting habits and attitudes is crucial to create long-lasting impact.
“Habits are built over time and are therefore the hardest to change.
“At first, pupils complained that it was inconvenient to wash their Snacky Boxes compared to using single-use plastic. But when a pupil approached me to express his enthusiasm and gratitude for the Snacky Box initiative, I knew at that moment that I wasn’t alone!” Lee recalled.
He shared that his biggest takeaway from the programme is that teachers have the power to influence change in students.
“Joining GWP is a win in my book!” he said, adding that he will continue the Snacky Box initiative when the school reopens in February.
Khor said the programme taught her the importance of collaboration and community involvement in driving sustainability initiatives.
“Small actions matter. All efforts contribute to a larger goal of sustainability. It’s about changing habits and encouraging others to think about their environmental footprints.
“It is thanks to GWP that I have the motivation and inspiration to run our projects on this scale. Through ZWM’s support, we’ve been able to access great workshops, events and resources that have guided our projects. Their advice has been incredibly helpful in shaping our initiatives,” she said.
Endorsed by the Education Ministry, GWP won the QS ImpACT Awards 2024 in the Climate Education & Advocacy Champion Award category last month.
GWP 2.0 is starting in April and will take place over 12 weeks. This year’s edition is being extended to teachers nationwide, with enrolment open to 300 educators.
Applications are open now and will close on March 31.
For more information, visit https://zerowastemalaysia.org/green-wira-programme/.
Li Zhen, 21, a student in the United Kingdom, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.
1. Prepare a speech to motivate your classmates to adopt the “Snacky Box” initiative, and then deliver it in class. Finally, ask your classmates to rate how persuasive you were.
2. How would you implement a zero-waste initiative at your school? Propose your idea to the class and have your classmates rate its viability on a scale of one to five, with five being the most viable.
The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes the use of English language in primary and secondary schools nationwide. For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.
