Lopeng Eco Ranger project in full swing
MIRI: Two weeks after the launch of the Lopeng Eco Ranger ( LER) team set up by students from SMK Lopeng Tengah who were selected to participate in the Toyota Eco Youth ( TEY) programme, the team is now in action, utilising problem- solving methods and procedures to carry out its awareness campaign themed ‘Reduce Carbon Footprint, Save Mother Earth’.
For the chosen project sites of Borneo Evangelical Mission ( BEM) On the Rock, Masjid Darul Ehsan and BEM Canada Hill, which are said to be prone to electricity and water wastage which creates excess carbon footprints, LER president Nurul Syaqirah Abdul Wahab revealed that education is still seen as a possible solution to temper carbon footprint problems.
“We visited the three venues and found that they used high amounts of electricity and water daily. Our project is to conduct research on the way to reduce the usage of electricity and water in order to create an eco- friendly environment and reduce carbon footprints.
“However, it would not be possible without the cooperation from the people.
“Thus, one of our campaign methods is to instil awareness among the students, teachers and church community about saving electricity and water.
“Throughout the project, we want to create an eco- friendly environment that can help slow down global warming and of course, save water for the benefit of the next generation,” Nurul Syaqirah said.
Meanwhile, SMK Lopeng Tengah principal Ng Cheng Soo lauded the programme as greatly beneficial to students as it helps them sharpen their social skills, aside from improving their knowledge about the environment.
“Our school is lucky to be chosen from among other schools in Sarawak, and we (the school) as well as the students, greatly appreciate this opportunity and will make full use of it to strive for the better,” he said during the launch of LER early this month.
The launch was also attended by councillor Aries Leong, SMK Lopeng Tengah Parent-Teacher Association ( PTA) head Spaiee Julai and PTA members.
TEY is a joint effort by UMW and the Ministry of Education, aiming to cultivate awareness on the importance of preserving the environment amongst the younger generation, so that they will consistently act responsibly towards the environment to ensure a sustainable future.
TEY focuses on environmentrelated topics and with the involvement of multiple stakeholders including local councils, government agencies, community leaders, local residents and private companies, the communitylevel programme is offering the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases to all participants of this year’s programme.