SMK Jeli, Kelantan

Buzzing with creativity, the students of SMK Jeli were able to develop their Kelulut honey project further, despite the trials of 2020. Bees make honey, and they don't stop for any human intervention - or global pandemics. As a way to develop an entrepreneurial spirit amongst the community, the special honey which the students harvested and bottled themselves, is now for sale, for those who have a taste for something truly organic, and delicious.

Getting Creative - Schools and their Upcycling projects

Great minds think alike - and our EcoWira students across the country are no different. Needing morale boosters after the MCO, many schools and students found creative ways to upcycle items such as plastic bottles, containers, old tyres, and cardboard boxes to bring light, life, and colour to their schools. The following images come to us from:

Image One:

(Top Left) SMK PENGKALAN BERANGAN, TERENGGANU – MINI HYDROPONIC SYSTEM

(Top Right) SMK WAKAF TAPAI, TERENGGANU – UPCYCLING PLASTIC BOTTLES - ART

(Bottom) SK SERI BAYU, PERAK – UPCYCLING PLASTIC BOTTLES - FUNCTIONAL ITEMS

Image Two:

(Top) SMK LUNDU, SARAWAK – UPCYCLED ITEMS FOR GARDENS

(Bottom) SK GEMANG, KELANTAN – UPCYCLED ITEMS FOR GARDENS

Image Three:

(Top) SK KLIA, SELANGOR - ECO-FRIENDLY MACHINES

(Bottom) SK WAKAF TAPAI, TERENGGANU - CHILDREN'S TOYS

Image Four:

(Top) SK STUNGGANG MELAYU, SARAWAK - RECYCLED PLASTIC BOTTLES FOR PLANTING

(Bottom) SK NIUP, SARAWAK - SEPARATE RECYCLING BINS

Self-Sufficiency - How does your garden grow?

There were also schools that saw the need to grow their own vegetables, plants, and herbs, with both rural and urban schools getting into the swing of making their school a communal space to help themselves, and each other. Food waste management and composting, alongside scientific methods were in evidence in the preparation and execution of these projects, with quality assurance and controls in place throughout. There was also great inclusion happening, by the way of SEN students being involved in the planning and execution of many projects across the schools.

Image One:

(Top) SMK AYER LANAS, KELANTAN – SEN STUDENTS – HYDROPONIC PRODUCE FOR SALE

(Bottom Left) SJKT LADANG BATU AMPAT, SELANGOR – MINI-GARDEN

(Bottom Right) SK IBOK, TERENGGANU - "TAMAN EcoWira"

Image Two:

SK TELOK KALONG, TERENGGANU

Image Three:

(Top) SK AYER LANAS, KELANTAN - HERB GARDEN

(Bottom) SK JELI 1, KELANTAN - VEGETABLE GARDEN

Image Four:

(Top) SMK TAMAN MALURI, KUALA LUMPUR

(Bottom) SMK TANJONG LUMPUR, PAHANG

Image Five:

SK KIJAL, TERENGGANU

Image Six:

SK BATU BERTANGKUP, PERLIS

SMK Kijal, Terengganu

The Covid19 MCO and RMCO gave the students of SMK Kijal, Terengganu, a challenge to solve. With a bit of ingenuity, the students found ways to use recycled items, such as pipes and levers from construction site dumps, and created their own Hand Sanitiser Stands, complete with working foot pump - so... NO HANDS! The pump stands were placed throughout the school, and are a shining example of how amazing ideas can come out of the darkest times! Very creative idea, and an amazing response to life as we know it, today.

SK Bukit Anak Dara, Terengganu

The students of SK Bukit Anak Dara were concerned about their local ecosystem, and so focused on improving the life of birds in their school grounds. Attracting birds helps to reduce insect populations, especially in communities which are near forests, jungles, the beach, or other water sources. Of course, the concern was for the stability of the birds nests, yet by using locally sourced products - coconut husks - and other recycled items, and hanging the nests in protected areas under large trees, the students were able to complete their project, and bring a change to the area around the library, which is a quiet and restful area for the whole school community - and the birds!

SK Bumiputera, Sarawak

The Standard 4, 5 and 6 students, along with the Special Education Class of SK Bumiputera, in Sarawak, decided to find new ways to reduce waste, both in the school canteen, and in their own homes. The objective was to raise awareness of how small actions can lead to bigger results. The collected waste was all put to good use, as the students created their own food gardens with the resulting compost. The cycle of life continues, and this was a great way to learn skills of self-reliance, problem-solving, and to highlight inclusion, for all students. Well done, everyone!

SMK Seri Paka, Terengganu

SMK Seri Paka have put their efforts into a project to create their own sea-worthy vessel. As the school is in a community which is strongly connected with the local beaches and ocean life of the region, it was only right the students developed their own Kayak, via their EcoWira project - "My Kayak". This project required the students to use accessible items and waste - the base of the kayak is built from repurposed plywood, which is then coated with resin, which is made from polystyrene, which was found during beach clean-ups, along with a controlled amount of petrol. The resin coating makes the wooden kayak ready for use on the ocean waves. The impact of being able to make their own kayak has wide ranging benefits for all community members, and is a great example of the interconnectedness of this project, its place, and its usefulness on a wider scale.

SMK Bongawan 2, Sabah

SMK Bongawan 2 have been hard at work creating their own personalised Trash Bins under their STEM 'Projek Imaginasi Saintifik Teknologi Hijau' initiative. Especially with social distancing in the RMCO, having your own trash bin, at your desk, makes interacting and movement in class just that little bit safer.

SK Mandahan, Sabah

SK Mandahan, in Sabah, are enjoying the fruits, and vegetables, of their labor. Their community garden project has flourished, and they have been scientific in their approach, measuring size, mass, and deliciousness! Well done, SK Mandahan!

SK Kempadang, Pahang

The students of SK Kempadang have been hard at work, improving their school's garden, using recycled bricks, tyres, and plastic bottles filled with plastic bags, as dividers. Big or small, each EcoWira Project brings the skills of creativity, innovation and collaboration to the forefront. Well done, everyone, at SK Kempadang.

SK Tanjung Lumpur, Pahang

A very innovative project - in conjunction with Universiti Malaya Pahang - the students of SK Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan, are contributing to research about developing biodiesel, based on used cooking oil! The project is RAHMAH UME Synergy. Click on the button below to read the prospectus, to find out more!

SK Sampadi, Sarawak

The students of SK Sampadi, Sarawak, have also been hard at work, back at school, restarting their school's outdoor projects - check out their video, "Moving Forward" at the link below, to see what's up!

Kimanis Cluster, Sabah

It wasn't just the MCO that hit schools hard, the schools of the Kimanis Cluster in Sabah faced an additional challenge - a large flood hit the area during the lockdown, with rushing water filling classrooms and washing away all the hard work put into already established EcoWira projects. However, like true Eco Heroes, once they were back at school, the students began a massive clean-up, and re-started their projects. They show us that resilience and collaboration are the ways to develop new solutions for emerging challenges. Well done, Kimanis Cluster!

SK Kimanis, Sabah

The flood washed away all their plants for their Making My Classroom Cool Project - but they are back at it now! The series of photos below are "The Flood", and "Today". Great job, everyone!

SK Pekan Kimanis, Sabah

EcoWira students doing research, and clearing their garden, for their 'Going Bananas' Project.

SMK Agama Kimanis, Sabah

Students clearing their new site for their project as they need to start all over again - the former site was declared unsafe, with major repairs about to happen to 2 blocks near the EcoWira Project.

SMK Bongawan 2, Sabah

A STEM Friendly Prototype Trash Bin under Projek Imaginasi Saintifik Teknologi Hijau

Jeli schools, Kelantan

The Jeli schools continued their projects from home during the MCO and RMCO. Click on the button below to see their efforts.

SK Seri Samudera, Perak

This school was active before, during, and now AFTER the MCO. What a huge effort by everyone at SK Seri Samudera. Click on the button below to see their efforts.

SMK Bongawan 2, Sabah: Getting Started in Sabah!

Watch the video below to see what has begun at SMKB2, Kimanis Cluster, Sabah.

SMK Sanglang, Perlis: It's "All Systems Go!"

SMK Sanglang, Perlis, held an assembly recently to launch their EcoWira Project. Looks like it's a schoolwide effort to be aware and make a difference in their local community.

3/3/20: EcoWira hits 40!

There are now 40 Trust Schools across the nation - from Perlis to Sabah - that are working on a diverse range of EcoWira projects. 25 SKs and 15 SMK/SMKAs make up the group, all ably led by passionate teachers and supportive SLTs who want project-based learning, real-life hands-on experiences, transferable skills and authentic student-voice activities, within their community. Keep an eye out for updates from the schools as we share and spotlight the progress of your awesome EcoWira projects.

Contact your LeapEd Cluster Advisory Team member about how to get your school's project featured in the "From The Schools" section below.

5/5/20: Latest information

We at EcoWira hope you are all staying safe during this difficult time. We have added a LeapEd Bright Idea (Spotlight, 29th April) about what you can do with your friends, once you are back at school. Click the button below to link you to the information.