RCE Kuching - 2021

Location

UCSI University Sarawak Campus
Lot 2976, Block 7, Muara Tebas Land District Sejingkat
Malaysia
See map: Google Maps
MY
Rivers are Our Life - RCE Kuching Leadership Module 1
CSV
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Rivers are Our Life - RCE Kuching Leadership Module 1
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Kuching
Contributing organization(s) : 
Youth Ambassadors
UCSI University Sarawak Campus
Natural Resources and Environment Board, Sarawak, Malaysia
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Mukvinder Sandhu
Organizational Affiliation: 
UCSI University Sarawak Campus
E-mail: 
mukvinders@ucsiuniversity.edu.my
Format of project: 
Manuscript
Language of project: 
English
Date of submission:
Friday, September 10, 2021
Additional resources: 
Work in progress - Draft is ready which is being improved on
Does this project link to any education and/or sustainable development policy or policies?: 
Yes
ESD for 2030 Framework
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
SDGs
At what level is the policy operating?: 
International
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Malaysia
Address of focal point institution for project: 
UCSI University, Lot 2976
Block 7, MTLD, Sejingkat,Kuching
Ecosystem(s):
Coastal, Fresh water
Target Audience:
Primary, Secondary, Youth (Informal)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
Kuching is one of the twelve administrative divisions of Sarawak in Borneo. It is the most populous division of Sarawak comprising the districts of Kuching, Lundu and Bau with an area of around 430 sq km. Kuching is also the capital of Sarawak and occupies both banks of the Sarawak River. With its natural beauty and historical significance, Sarawak River's potential as a tourist attraction has never been overlooked by the authorities. The local and tourists can also enjoy the heritage buildings alongside the river banks.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
Two thirds of the rivers in Malaysia are to be categorized as polluted (Khalid et.al,2018). Rivers in Sarawak provide fresh water for consumption, recreation, industrial use and even means of public transport. In one of the local newspaper article, a villager admitted that she throws rubbish into the river at the back of her house and when asked about its impact on pollution, she said she was unaware that her action is bad for the environment. Therefore, continuous awareness should be done on river cleanliness by educating the public and encourage their participation in keeping the rivers clean.
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Period: 
January, 2022
Rationale: 
The educational materials being prepared by RCE Kuching's youth ambassadors cover information about rivers, pollutions and sources of river contaminants including plastic pollution. Some reference will be made to the effects of river pollution to oceans and marine life. It also proposes some ideas of how teh youth can contribute to the fight against environmental issues particularly river pollution. The Sarawak River which is the main source of water to Kuching city and its suburbs has been used as the main context of the learning module.

This project began in 2019, when the RCE Kuching Youth Ambassadors and RCE Kuching Fellows and stakeholders started collecting information about rivers and the SDGs and compiling these into preliminary materials named 'River for Everybody'. Work is on-going, having gone through several drafts to ensure the information is engaging and appealing to the targeted audience.
Objectives: 
-To provide information about rivers and their importance in simple, easy-to-understand materials
-To propose ideas to youth on how they can contribute to taking actions on sustainable development issues related to rivers and plastic pollution.
-To engage youth in producing and eventually publishing this educational material
Activities and/or practices employed: 
- Research
-Discussions
-Work on several drafts
-Publication in soft copies as well as print materials
Size of academic audience: 
Approximately 5000 youth in targated schools in Kuching
Lessons learned: 
The youth have learnt that much needs to be done in order to publish manuscripts. Youth who worked on this material got the opportunity first-hand on what it takes to write and publish work. Youth learnt to conduct research from multiple sources including having to acknowledge them in their manuscripts. Youth are also expected to learn from the research and contents they have gathered and for themselves to act as ambassadors within their communities.
Key messages: 
Whilst waiting to be able to get back to conducting in-person school and community-based programmes, the youth amabassadors have decided to use this opportunity to be able to come up with educational materials to raise knowledge, awareness and action on rivers and their sustainability.
Relationship to other RCE activities: 
RCE Kuching's 5R Campaign and River Quality Programme
Funding: 
Funding will be sought once the manuscript has been finalised

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon 1World Rivers Day 2021 RCE Asia-Pacific Forum 2021.png (1.84 MB) Mandy Chen, RCE Kuching Youth Ambassador
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 6 - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all 
Direct
SDG 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable 
Direct
SDG 14 - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development 
Direct
SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss 
Direct
Theme
Curriculum Development 
Direct
Waste 
Direct
ESD for 2030-Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 4 - Mobilizing youth 
state: 
Direct
Update: 
No