As children, we were taught the trifecta of environmental responsibility, the 3Rs - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This simple self-regulating guideline has stayed with us all the way into adulthood, to this day, where the ‘mantra’ has evolved into 5Rs, adding Refuse and Repurpose to the line-up. At the heart of this progress are teachers who inspire future generations to drive impactful change.
In Malaysia, two local teachers are taking it upon themselves to pave the way for future generations, proving once again that meaningful environmental action can start as early as the public school level.
The High School Trailblazer: Cikgu Rosmira
Known as a role model among her peers, Cikgu Rosmira embraced the challenge of implementing eco-conscious initiatives at her school, SMK Taman Melawati, from the beginning. With RM 15,000 in seed funding from Zero Waste Malaysia (ZWM)’s Green Wira Programme (GWP), she spearheaded an EcoSmart Energy project that significantly reduced electricity usage across the school.
Using the funding, Cikgu Rosmira oversaw the installation of 142 LED lights across 23 classrooms and launched a photocell initiative, attaching sensors to spotlights around the school to cut down on unnecessary energy consumption. Her hands-on leadership is turning SMK Taman Melawati into a beacon of energy conservation.
When asked why she chose to focus on raising awareness, she explained, "Since SMK Taman Melawati is located in an urban area, many students already understand the importance of sustainability. However, they often lack the practical experience to implement these values in everyday life. That’s where we come in as teachers—to bridge the gap between knowledge and action."
Cikgu Rosmira’s initiatives didn’t stop with energy conservation. She also helped introduce a rainwater harvesting system to reduce water wastage and promote greenery on school grounds. Through her leadership, the Zero Waste campaign not only shrunk the school’s waste footprint but also empowered students to extend those principles beyond the classroom and into their homes and communities.
The before-and-after shots of SMK Melawati's rainwater harvesting system and EcoSmart Energy project which was introduced by Cikgu Rosmira for the Green Wira Programme.
"The things students learn at school can go far beyond the classroom walls," she added. "Often, with parents busy working, they may not have the time to teach their kids about waste management. At school, teachers can serve as role models, showing students how to make sustainable choices in practical ways. You’d be surprised how receptive high school students can be—they just need that nudge to put theory into practice."
Cultivating Green Habits in Primary School: Cikgu Khuzaimah’s Approach
At the primary school level, Cikgu Khuzaimah from SK Telok Panglima Garang shares a similar belief in the crucial role teachers play in fostering sustainable habits. Working with younger children presents unique challenges. As Cikgu Khuzaimah explains, “For primary school students, the question of ‘why should we do this?’ becomes especially important.” Large, abstract ideas like saving the planet can feel overwhelming, so she tailors her lessons to more immediate, tangible contexts.
Instead of discussing environmental issues on a global scale, she focuses on the school environment, demonstrating simple actions—such as waste segregation—and explaining their direct impact on the school. This approach helps students more easily grasp the importance of their contributions, making them feel like active participants in a visible process.
To further this hands-on learning, Cikgu Khuzaimah also received RM 15,000 in seed funding under GWP to launch the Green Recycle House project at SK Telok Panglima Garang. This initiative led to the creation of a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) on campus, transforming it into an educational hub where students can engage with recycling and organic waste management firsthand. The facility gives students and the wider school community a convenient way to contribute recyclables, creating a living example of the 5Rs in action.
Additionally, the school ran the 5R Audit Workshop through GWP, which had a notable impact, including a significant reduction in the use of single-use plastic bottles. The measurable results of these efforts demonstrate how even young students can make meaningful contributions to sustainability when guided by educators who emphasise action over theory.
The before-and-after shots of SK Telok Panglima Garang's Green Recycle House project which was introduced by Cikgu Khuzaimah for the Green Wira Programme.
Cikgu Khuzaimah underscores the importance of creating lasting memories to solidify these lessons. “To make sustainability a part of their everyday lives, we need to build memories,” she says. “It’s hard for a concept to stick through mere explanation, but when students see it in action, they connect it to real experiences, and that makes it sustainable.”
Malaysia’s Zero Waste Journey: A Community-Led Movement
By encouraging young students to adopt eco-conscious habits early on, both Cikgu Khuzaimah and Cikgu Rosmira are helping foster a generation that instinctively considers their impact on the planet. Malaysia’s journey towards a zero-waste future is gaining momentum, with educators playing a pivotal role in driving this transformation. Recognising the unique influence of teachers, ZWM has focused on empowering them as key agents of change within their communities.
ZWM’s decision to centre its efforts on teachers through programs like the Green Wira initiative is a strategic one. By equipping educators with the tools and knowledge to lead Zero Waste initiatives in schools, the organisation is helping to shift mindsets on a larger scale. "Why not teach the teachers?" explains Sue Yee, Co-Founder & Director of ZWM and Irene Chooi, Education Programme Manager of the GWP:
Teachers are amplifiers. Our public survey showed us that a significant part of our community wanted us to focus on education and be more involved in schools. Teachers can create a ripple effect, reaching not only students but also their families and the broader community.
This insight led ZWM to design the GWP, a comprehensive initiative aimed at working directly with teachers to instil sustainability practices in both primary and secondary students. By fostering "core memories" through hands-on sustainability activities, the program helps children embed these lessons in their everyday lives. As a pilot initiative for the 2023/2024 cycle, GWP targets government schools across Malaysia to create a ripple effect of environmental consciousness that will grow over time.
Through preliminary research, ZWM identified the vast number of government schools and teachers in the country as an untapped resource in the push for Zero Waste. By empowering educators, they are laying the foundation for a future where sustainability becomes second nature to students, creating a larger, long-term impact for generations to come.
Scaling Up: Bigger and Better with Green Wira 2.0
Following the success of the GWP pilot edition, supported by Axiata Foundation and Amazon Web Services, ZWM is now preparing to roll out GWP 2.0—an expanded and enhanced version of the initiative. Building on the lessons learned from GWP 1.0, the new phase promises to be more impactful, with a broader reach and deeper engagement.
The recruitment and training for GWP 2.0 will take place between 1st December 2024 to 31st March 2025, with 300 local educators set to participate. These teachers will undergo an 8-week Structured Online Module Training, featuring four key modules and three interactive webinars. This comprehensive training will equip them with the skills and knowledge necessary to guide their students in implementing Zero Waste initiatives at their schools. Once trained, these educators will move on to the program’s implementation phase, where they will work directly with students to put sustainability practices into action.
One of the key improvements in GWP 2.0 is its extended timeline. Unlike the first version, which had a shorter duration, GWP 2.0 will span 16 months. This longer period will allow both teachers and students more time to develop and sustain their environmental projects, ensuring a greater and more lasting impact. Malaysian educators eager to join this transformative program can mark their calendars—recruitment for GWP 2.0 opens on December 1st. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this movement or sign up for the latest updates and alerts about GWP 2.0 here.
By scaling up and refining the program, ZWM hopes to empower even more educators, ultimately creating a ripple effect of sustainability that reaches every corner of the country. ZWM is currently seeking funding opportunities and collaborations to run the next cohort of this programme in late 2024. For more information regarding the programme, kindly reach out to info@zerowastemalaysia.org.
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