In the face of mitigating climate change and environmental crises, more of the younger generation are stepping up to contribute. Eager to roll up their sleeves and spark immediate change, there is an urgent movement towards a greener planet—but where does one begin?
“We found that many young people in Malaysia are already very passionate about environmental conservation, and they want to do more, but the information surrounding local NGOs was not readily available,” TP Lim, President of Roots & Shoots Malaysia, shared.
Bridging that gap, Roots & Shoots is a worldwide programme founded by renowned English primatologist and anthropologist Dr Jane Goodall, providing youth with a platform to contribute to environmental and nature conservation.
“We found that many young people in Malaysia are already very passionate about environmental conservation, and they want to do more, but the information surrounding local NGOs was not readily available,” TP Lim, President of Roots & Shoots Malaysia, shared.
And one such volunteer was Chin Wen, who had her eyes set on wildlife conservation.
Chin Wen volunteered at The Datai Resort, Langkawi, Kedah, for six weeks, where she was assigned to the sustainability and nature centres. This introduced her to the resort’s environmental efforts. From composting duties to water quality testing, GPS trail mapping, and wildlife identification, it marked a pivotal moment in Chin Wen’s conservation journey. Soon, she was hired as a Naturalist at Datai Pledge, a conservation arm of the resort. Just after a year, Chin Wen was promoted to Manager—a testament to her leadership qualities.
Participating in the Asia Pacific Roots and Shoots Youth Summit 2023, it also inspired her to launch her conservation project, Pearl of Perlis, highlighting the rich biodiversity of Wang Kelian, Perlis including flora, fauna, and fungi.
For Chin Wen, she also observed many of her peers actively engaging in the movement, becoming more than just spectators.
“I’m seeing so many people around my age or even younger doing great things to address climate change. It can start small, such as incorporating sustainable practices in our daily lives, volunteering with NGOs, joining climate change campaigns, and even starting your own project and connecting with like-minded individuals,” Chin Wen commented.
Fellow Malaysian volunteers Max and Fatin are examples of walking the talk. Starting as volunteers at Roots & Shoots, they have transitioned into founders of Youths United for Earth (YUFE), aiming to drive positive environmental change among youths. Their efforts were recognised with the prestigious Diana Award, established in memory of the late Diana, Princess of Wales.
In a milestone year for Roots & Shoots, youths mentored in 2023 are returning in 2024 to impart their knowledge and experiences to the new volunteers. TP Lim noted, “The programme is self-sustaining as alumni return to initiate new projects, attracting fresh volunteers. We’re seeing a transfer of knowledge and, hopefully, passion.”
Back in 2019, Roots & Shoots started with only 36 volunteers with support from Yayasan Hasanah. Over the years, the number today has grown to 317 youths and 51 NGO partners.
“Yayasan Hasanah has been instrumental and crucial in the establishment and success of Roots & Shoots Malaysia,” said TP Lim. “We relied on Hasanah’s expertise to advise us on identifying the ideal NGO partners with whom we could work, to ensure our volunteers gain a rich and fruitful experience,” he added.
With organisations like Roots & Shoots, youths are more equipped to be the change they want to see. “Youth are the future agents of change makers. Through RASMA, we empower youths like Chin Wen to think outside the box to find solutions and design their own innovative problem-solving solutions to tackle environmental issues in Malaysia,” Vidya, Senior Grant Manager at Yayasan Hasanah, remarked.
Young individuals like Chin Wen are already playing their part by writing their own narratives as future guardians, to create a more sustainable world.
“I hope that environmental conservation will become common sense in the future, where everyday people carry it as their responsibility. But for this to happen, it needs to start at schools, where students are exposed to environmental education much earlier,” said Chin Wen.