JOHOR BAHRU, 12 August – The Johor Bahru branch of the Association of International Students for Science, Economics, and Commerce (AIESEC), in collaboration with the UTM Office of Campus Sustainability (UTMCS), successfully organized the Environmental Cleansing Habitation Oasis (ECHO 5.0) project.
Launched by AIESEC Malaysia in September 2021, ECHO 5.0 is a youth-driven community social initiative aimed at addressing climate change in Malaysia. The project, which ran from July 27th to August 25th, involved eight dedicated volunteers from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) and was conducted across nine different locations in the Johor Bahru area.
Pei Xuan, the Organizing Committee Chair for ECHO 5.0, highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “ECHO 5.0 is more than just a month-long volunteering project. It’s a movement empowering young people to take meaningful action for environmental conservation. Our activities included visits to Sarang Buaya Pasir Gudang, beach cleaning at Pantai Batu Layar, and an educational tour to Tanjung Piai Johor National Park, all designed to inspire youth to contribute to the preservation of our environment.”
One of the key events of the project was ‘Become Green Leader,’ organized in partnership with UTMCS. This event brought together the ECHO 5.0 volunteers for a critical discussion on the impacts of climate change. The event, held at Blok N24, UTM Johor Bahru, was officiated by Dr. Zanariah Jasmani, Deputy Director of UTMCS.
The event featured an engaging gallery walk, insightful presentations, and a strong emphasis on practical, actionable solutions. It concluded with a powerful call to action, encouraging youth to become sustainability champions in their own communities.
Despite having the option to take a semester break, these eight passionate volunteers, hailing from diverse backgrounds but united by a common goal, chose to dedicate their time and energy to climate action.
“These young individuals are just university students, yet the impact of their efforts is truly remarkable,” said Pei Xuan. “At AIESEC, we believe that small actions can lead to significant change. If one person with 100 social media followers spreads awareness about climate change, that’s 100 more people informed. This is how we create a ripple effect for a sustainable future.”
