BERITA KAMPUS
Issue
Written on 5th April 2024
AWARENESS OF SDGS EMPHAZISED IN A COLLABORATION BETWEEN CGSS AND TZU-CHI MERITS SOCIETY MALAYSIA
This picture shows the other participants learning a new board game. (Picture by Ahmad Imran Mohammad Roslani)
MAIN CAMPUS, 1ST APRIL - Crucial awareness of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was represented in the PaGamO Booth Exhibition held by students from the Centre for Global Sustainability Studies (CGSS) of University Sains Malaysia (USM) in collaboration with members of Tzu-Chi Merits Society Malaysia on 31st March, from 9 am to 12 pm at Dewan Utama Pelajar (DUP).
According to the emcee of the event, Yee Jin Chai from the Centre for Global Sustainable Studies (CGSS), the PaGamO Booth Exhibition was held with the sole purpose of sharing and spreading knowledge on the Sustainable Development Goals concerning the environment, economy, health and our daily practices.
“The purpose of this event was to share knowledge while spreading awareness on the severity of the issues concerning the SDGs at the local and national level such as natural disasters, water and food crisis, climate change and especially our perceptions on recycling,” said Yee Jin Chai.
Yee Jin Chai also stated that the event is an opportunity to clear up the various misunderstandings among youngsters when it comes to protecting the environment.
“For instance, if we take a look at the 5R concept, the Rs are arranged in an order that begins with refuse, followed by reduce, reuse, repurpose and lastly, recycle. However, the common practice is that we would recycle our items, which is the very last step. Instead, the major step to minimizing waste is reducing non-recyclable materials, which is quite difficult,” said Yee Jin Chai.
He stated that the whole point of the event was to urge an instant shift in how one practices the 5R concept, and comprehends the SDGs for the betterment of the nation, which is the leading factor for their collaboration with Tzu-Chi Merit Society Malaysia.
“We collaborated with the Tzu-Chi Merit Society Malaysia, which is a Taiwanese international humanitarian and non-profit organization for the booth exhibition as we have many undergraduates under their organization with great potential to highlight the significance of SDGs to others through their creativity,” said Yee Jin Chai.
“Therefore, the members of Tzu Chi and other students have incorporated various beneficial activities and games into these booth exhibitions to spark a sense of awareness and empathy towards our earth as we look into sustainability issues,” said Yee Jin Chai.
Students participating in fun games and activities at the PaGamO Booth Exhibition at Dewan Utama Pelajar (DUP). (Picture by Sumayya Fauzi)
Lee Ying Jing, a year 2 from Tungku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) stated that she and her team wanted to emphasize the importance of a plant-based diet and how it connects to the SDGs.
“In our booth, we highlighted the significance of a plant-based diet and its benefits by demonstrating to our audience how it coincides with the environment, and health, which simultaneously saves lives,” said Lee Ying Jing.
Aside from that, Noor Fatin Hana Azmi, Biology 3, and a member of the USM’s Environmental Protection and Education Hub (EPEHub) mentioned that donations and free giveaways were also made throughout the event.
“For our booth, we decided to do a free giveaway of items donated by the students such as clothes, books, shoes and plushies as our initiative to foster the act of giving to those in need,” said Fatin.
“At the same time, it is Ramadan. I believe this would instil a sense of gratitude and compassion while strengthening friendships. It is also the backbone to combating the first and major sustainable development goal, which is poverty. From what I observe today, it is a lively event since many love to indulge in the clothes and shoes we displayed at our booth,” said Fatin.
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Text: Sumayya Fauzi/Photo by Ahmad Imran Mohammad Roslani & Sumayya Fauzi
Created on 1 April 2024
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