COVID-19 has not stopped the youth from volunteering for environmental causes, although some of the work was done online.

Fifty-three young people completed 5,200 hours of voluntary service on site and online from August to October.

They were a big help to many non-profit organisations on a limited budget, and their efforts were recognised by Jane Goodall’s Roots and Shoots, a youth programme founded by the eponymous primatologist.

“During this pandemic, we felt that rather than sitting around waiting for it to end, we should continue doing something positive,” said Roots and Shoots Malaysia (Rasma) president Lim Tiong Piow.

“Many (civil groups) have been affected financially as their sources of income have dried up due to the lockdowns and economic uncertainty.

“Many have also reduced manpower due to the movement-control order. It has been a very challenging period for all of them.”

Rasma, a service-based youth achievement award, partnered with Yayasan Hasanah to encourage Malaysians aged between 16 and 25 to give back to society.

“We received over 170 applications – double last year’s – to be part of the programme, even during the lockdown. This is testament to the resilience and selflessness of our youth,” Lim said.

However, only a limited number of participants were allowed because of Covid-19 restrictions.

“The volunteers helped online, performed research tasks, and coordinated social media efforts to help our partners move their causes forward despite the pandemic.

“They also assisted with internet fundraising activities and webinars as things went online at a rapid pace.”

Rasma volunteer Liew Yuet San, 21, said she joined the programme because overseas travel was barred.

“I began to look for local volunteering platforms. This is how I came across Rasma,” said Liew, who joined Royal Belum, one of Rasma’s 18 partner organisations.

She conducted children education programmes for the local indigenous community.

“I noticed that the Jahai tribe is quite unbothered by the pandemic.

“I think the main reason is that the villages are secluded – the only way to get to there is by boat. They do not know what is going on outside their world.

“Having said that, Royal Belum, together with groups such as Mercy Malaysia and Kak Enaz, have put a lot of effort into helping the indigenous people.”

Another volunteer, Nur Aleeya Illyana, 26, said she was impressed by those who continued to serve the community in spite of health risks and restrictions.

“Some organisations have had to scale down or cancel some of the activities. However, work does not stop for them.

“Their determination inspired me to appreciate each learning experience and opportunity.”

Nur Aleeya volunteered at three organisations in as many months, working at the Rasma office, Free Tree Society Bangsar and Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia.

Her two most memorable experiences were lugging a 3kg camera lens to document the local Siamang species of apes in Pahang and learning about the direct impact of turtle conservation efforts on the poor in Terengganu.

“I had a very humbling and fulfilling experience with the women of Kg Pasir Gajah, who were most in the B40 group. They sewed the merchandise (of the various organisations) for sale.

“While some may think that initiatives like this have little impact, I saw with my own eyes how happy they were to get their hard-earned money.

“Turtle conservation work affects their lives in a way that others may not understand,” Nur Aleeya said.

Medical student, Wafiq Aqil, 19, said he was attracted to Rasma’s acceptance of youngsters volunteering to work in fields they knew nothing about.

“I was so delighted to volunteer at the Malaysian Primatological Society. I was assigned to help researchers obtain data on the species of mammals known as colugos,” he said, referring to an endangered family of gliders related to primates.

He said expertise was not required for the data collection work he did.

“Most of my tasks were to measure the distance between sleeping trees – trees marked as sleeping ports of these colugos, – their height, connectivity of branches and tree patterns.

“I also helped to record the colugos’ activities at night.

Wafiq said he had become concerned about the future of the arboreal creatures and hoped that steps would be taken to save the species.

Rasma’s Lim said youth volunteers were able to learn first-hand what it took to work for change.

“All our youth volunteers have come away with the inspiration to do more.

“We urge the youth to check out our local groups and to volunteer with them. Even if you cannot be there physically, you can still use social media to help spread their message and raise awareness of the issues they are trying to rectify,” he said.

The award partners were Sun Bear Conservation Centre, EcoKnights, ERE Consulting Group, Free Tree Society, Gunung Mulu National Park, Khazanah Research Institute, Malaysian Primatological Society, Malayan Rainforest Station, Persatuan Rimba Komuniti Kota Damansara, Perbadanan Taman Negeri Perak, Rimau, GreenSmiths, Rasma, The Habitat Foundation, TREKS, Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Centre, Turtle Conservation Society of Malaysia, and Water Watch Penang. – December 13, 2020.