UMS : Pulau Matanani
Mantanan Island, Kota Belud district is the home for the urban indigenous people who earn an average income of only RM 400 per month through fishing activities. Besides that, a shocking 0% passing rate for children in the National Primary School Evaluation Test has left the young generation to lose out on the opportunity to proceed to high school.
In addition, Mantanani Island does not have a proper dumping site neither a proper disposal channel to reduce the amount of trash. As they could not afford to bear the high cost to transport out the trash from the island; it has caused the island to be filled with trash.
In Phase 1, Enactus UMS collaborated with School of Education and Social Development in improving the education level. With 6 volunteers sent to the island to assist the primary 6 students, resulting to an increment of 30% passing rate in year 2011.
Enactus UMS aimed to uplift the standard of living of the community while tackling the environment issue. With that, Enactus UMS has identified an opportunity to turn trash into treasure in Phase 2.
Students first conducted workshops and empowered 23 full-time housewives to utilize the trash, majority were junk food wrappers around the island by educating them the skills to create eco-purse.
Enactus UMS provided them with a start-up kit to transform them to become independent entrepreneurs that are able to provide constant supply of ECO PURSE to the resorts in the island and also the mainland, Kota Belud.
This project coincides perfectly with the 3 R policy, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, where effort taken in reducing the amount of trash available, reusing the wrappers for ECO PURSE production and lastly, encouraging recycling habit through our 'Recycle Bank' system.
Enactus UMS has brought new hope to Ubian women and enhanced family well-being which has generated RM 4,600 for 23 women for the sales of Eco Purse. At the same time, Enactus UMS has ensured the continuity of trash reduction through Eco-Purse and Recycle Bank System.
(Source: Enactus Malaysia Magazine 2013)
0 comments