Sembang@WWF
Sembang@WWF 2019
was a success!
Our endless gratitude to all those participated in Sembang@WWF 2019. We owe you big time for the success!
Check out what went down during
Sembang@WWF 2019!
Tackling Plastic Pollution from the Centre of a Stage
WWF-Malaysia’s storytelling platform, Sembang@WWF saw hundreds of young adults came from all across Malaysia to witness their inspiring friends taking the stage to speak passionately about plastic pollution. Created five years ago, the event is an opportunity for students to speak on various environmental issues held each year in conjunction with the Global Earth Day.
Held for the second time at Wisma Kebudayaan Soka Gakkai Malaysia, the event featured a forum discussion titled ‘Joining the Conversation: No Plastic in Nature’. In addition to the speakers sharing their views, a representative from the Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change, expert from the circular economy and WWF-Malaysia officials sat down to share the challenges and issues surrounding plastic pollution in our country.
About Sembang@WWF
What is Sembang@WWF?
Storytelling connects us to humanity because it helps us relate and empathize. With the magic of storytelling, we created a platform called ‘Sembang@WWF’ in our youth programme. The session gives an opportunity for students to speak on various environmental issues. It aims to engage and transport the students’ mind to stories on poverty, haze, wildlife poaching, shark finning and many more.
Sembang@WWF is an instrument for us to listen and share ideas on what we can do as individuals to make a change for a better environment. Through this platform, our programme aims to build youth leaders who are fluent in the concepts of climate change and are aware of its unprecedented threat to our planet. We need them to empower everyone with the knowledge to inspire action in defense of environmental protection.
The idea hinges on one of the steps advocated in the strategies of ESD - informing and involving society in their on-going sustainability initiatives in their respective schools, teacher education campuses, universities and even communities.
Sembang though it alludes to a laidback sentiment in Bahasa Melayu, will be the total opposite of its linguistic meaning in execution. The word was chosen because it embodies the spirit on inclusivity of ESD. It also symbolises aesthetic value and traditional knowledge promotion, which are among the core values of ESD.
Sembang@WWF 2018 speakers. Last year's Sembang@WWF was held at
Sunway Nexis in Kota Damansara, Selangor.
Sembang@WWF 2019 -
What's with Plastics?
Why is the theme this year What's with Plastics?
‘What’s with Plastics?’ is the theme for Sembang@WWF this year because it is generic and it allows room for a robust discussion on plastics in several relevant perspectives. The theme will allow us to unpack the myths on plastic as well as to understand the benefit that it brings & also the destruction it caused due to its mismanagement. Thus, advocating a stricter policy to mitigate the mismanagement of plastic and to influence a more sustainable consumption & production pattern of plastic usage & disposal.
The objectives of this programme are;
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To enhance awareness of current plastics related issues in Malaysia,
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To encourage discussion & networking between youth leaders, public leaders & plastics industries, &
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To influence a more sustainable consumption & production pattern of plastic usage & disposal.
Interested to know why we are emphasising on plastic pollution for Sembang@WWF 2019, take a look at the video below:
Sembang@WWF 2019 -
The Storytellers
Min Kim Chai
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Tuanku Bainun
Sembang@WWF Title :
Alternatives & Reusables to replace plastics
About the Storyteller :
Member of the Skuad Lestari IPGKTB, Min Kim and his team are concerned about many of the environmental issues. They are the everyday heroes that strive towards making a difference to our environment. Fueled by his passion to create a better tomorrow for the next generations, Min Kim is honoured to use this storytelling platform to share his views on plastic pollution and how one can become a better consumer.
Nor Farahaini Zainudin
Institut Pendidikan Guru Kampus Perempuan Melayu Melaka
Sembang@WWF Title :
Banning the Plastics Ban
About the Storyteller :
Nor Farahaini which means ‘happiness in the eyes’ embraces the meaning of her name proudly. She loves looking at nature as it brings her happiness and she finds being closer to it is very therapeutic. Farahaini believes that taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility and will undoubtedly benefit all humankind in the long run. She is pleased to be chosen as one of the speakers for Sembang@WWF 2019 as this opportunity will allow her to call for support from youth around Malaysia to take better care of mother nature.
Chong Xin Yi
SMK Damansara Jaya
Sembang@WWF Title :
Is recycling enough?
About the Storyteller :
Chong Xin Yi enjoys drawing and writing poetry during her free time as it allows her to express herself and she finds it very therapeutic. She is the President of the Buddhist Society in her school and she finds her teacher as a source of inspiration to care for the environment. As a girl that has been raised in a Chinese-speaking family, she wishes that the English language does not refrain her ability to make a difference in this world. She hopes that everyone will start doing their part in making the world a better place by conserving the environment, so that the future generations will be able to experience and witness the magnificence of the various flora and fauna that we have today.
Lean Ting Jin
SMK Damansara Jaya
Sembang@WWF Title :
Circular Economy of Plastics
About the Storytellers :
Chase Lean is a high school student studying in SMK Damansara Jaya. He’s in love with nature since he was a kid - he finds trees, birds in the sky and even the dinosaurs fascinating. He finds writing stories and articles are a great way to share his thoughts with the world. This young and proud author of a book called ‘Being Human’, he believes that everyone has the power to make a unique difference in society be it on environmental issues or poverty. He calls for a greater support for Planet Earth because together, we can make it a better place.
Farhana Alia is a Form 5 student from SMK Damansara Jaya. When not preparing for her SPM examinations, her other interest includes listening to music. Unable to resist good storytelling, she is also an avid reader of all genre. Since she was a child, she developed a keen interest in science, particularly on wildlife and nature. While she believes that scientific advancements are important to mankind, it should not be at the expense of harming mother nature. Her interest in nature peaked during when she was in primary school, wherein she was elected as the vice president for her primary school's Nature Club. In an effort to reduce her carbon footprints on the earth, she applies the basic 5R principles of refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing and recycling in her daily activities.