Young ecopreneurs make Sabah proud
The Kota Kinabalu pupils, aged nine to 12, received cash prizes amounting to RM9,000, trophies, medals and certificates of achievement for their efforts.
Good job: Sum and Deputy Sabah State Treasurer (Development) Hamdan Hamzani with the winners.
A total of 128 primary school pupils from 17 schools across Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Tuaran participated in the event.
The finalists successfully demonstrated their knowledge while playing the 'Eco Heroes' board game, where their creativity, understanding of money management and sustainability awareness were put to the test.
Carrying the theme of 'AEIOU for Responsible Living: Smarter Finances, Caring for Nature, Greener Choices', the biodiversity module of the programme was delivered in collaboration with renowned conservationist Dr Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots Malaysia – a global youth-based environmental and humanitarian programme – and supported by the Sabah State Treasury Department and the Education Ministry.
The programme, held from July 5 to 26, was conducted through practical workshops and interactive simulations that provided pupils with the opportunity to explore the field of environmentally friendly entrepreneurship, or ecopreneurship.
Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, who officiated the prize-giving ceremony, said the overwhelming response from the pupils and the encouraging number of participants is proof that the message of nature conservation has truly touched their hearts.
'As the saying goes, 'As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.'
'It is important for us to provide knowledge and awareness about the importance of preserving biodiversity from a young age so that they can become responsible environmental stewards in the future,' he added.
Alliance Bank chief strategy and transformation officer Dr Aaron Sum said he felt confident that the programme would help pupils realise that their daily activities and decisions have an impact on the environment and through this understanding, they will be able to develop a responsible attitude towards the environment.
'I am very proud of all the pupils who participated in the AEIOU Sabah Biodiversity Challenge and hope that what they have learnt will be put into practice and shared with other friends and family,' he said.
The AEIOU programme, which was launched in 2015, is recognised by the Education Ministry and supported by Bank Negara Malaysia, based on the concept of fostering financial skills among young Malaysians. Since its inception, the programme has reached over 180,000 primary school pupils through its seven editions.
The programme also provides community outreach, ensuring that all children have access to financial education resources.
Pupils can continue their financial learning journey through the AEIOU mobile app, which provides financial education videos and digital comics.
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