Sustainable Futures: AMDI Students and Sedim Community Join Forces

Ever seen a community event that’s both fun and eco-friendly? Well, look no further than the visit to the Sedim community recently organized by AMDI Student Association (ASA), uniting students, staff and local residents for a day brimming with activities focused on sustainability and empowerment. The entire event was carefully planned to achieve multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The day kicked off with insightful speeches from Dr. Asmida, ASA advisor, and Mr. Abdul Mutalib, representing the Sedim community, setting an enthusiastic tone for the day.

ASA members led a hands-on workshop, teaching the community how to craft beautiful DIY candles using soy wax and a tad bit of cooking oil. This activity not only sparked creativity and practical skills but also supported “responsible consumption and production” (SDG 12) by promoting sustainable materials and practices.

As a gesture to encourage efforts for “climate action” (SDG13) and “clean water and sanitation” (SDG6), ASA gifted the Sedim community a 60-liter drum. This was done in light of the Used Cooking Oil (UCO) project which encourages households to collect used cooking oil for sale. This will not only generate funds to support community-driven projects, but most importantly, protect Malaysia's waterways from pollution and preserve wildlife. The collected used oil can be sold to companies such as PETRONAS which is working Ministry of Plantation and Commodities to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) partly from used cooking oil. Imagine the huge amounts of greenhouse emissions from our flights saved, thanks to this initiative!

After taking a walk through the broken branches and admiring the stunning views, students cleaned the riverbank to ensure easy access to Sungai Sedim and boosting the area's attractiveness as a tourist destination. Throughout the day, students and community members bonded over a communal meal, enjoyed swimming in the river, and participated in shared prayers.

The event concluded with heartfelt speeches from Dr Ida Shazrina Ismail, Deputy Director (Academic and International), and Mr. Abdul Mutalib, expressing gratitude and underscoring the importance of such collaborations. This event exemplified the power of active community engagement and the impact of sustainable practices, leaving a lasting positive impression on both AMDI students and the Sedim community.