Latest news with #DeLaHarpe
The Star
2 days ago
- General
- The Star
Ripple aims to make waves in Sabah's green living movement
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Recycling Association (Ripple) is setting up a community-based learning centre to educate the public on household waste management and environmental sustainability. It also intends to train at least 15 leaders for grassroots recycling initiatives. The Ripple Circle (Community Initiative for Recycling, Circular Learning and Education) centre is part of a mission to tackle Sabah's waste issues through volunteerism, education and action, said Ripple Sabah co-chair Michelle De La Harpe. 'This will be more than just a recycling centre. It is a space where community, environment, and education come together to create a lasting impact,' she said at the launch event in Luyang on Friday (July 18). The centre, run entirely by volunteers, will accept sorted and cleaned glass and plastic bottles from 9am to noon every Sunday from next month. Supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM SDG), the centre is part of Ripple's wider vision to empower communities through environmental education. 'We aim to train at least 15 people, particularly unemployed youth, women, and those from the B40 group, to become eco-entrepreneurs with the skills to run small-scale recycling businesses,' De La Harpe added. She said earlier Ripple initiatives had diverted over 41 tonnes of glass and 22 tonnes of plastic from landfills, prevented more than 6,000kg of carbon emissions, and generated over RM28,000 in community income. The centre also addresses the lack of structured recycling infrastructure. Co-chair Tressie Yap highlighted the daily struggles faced by Ripple and other NGOs, which end up handling contaminated recyclables during sorting because of poor public awareness. 'We are overwhelmed. People drop off recyclables mixed with food waste and even diapers. Clear policies, proper scheduling and support are needed for recyclers like us,' Yap said. She urged local authorities to step in with structured logistics and manpower, suggesting designated collection days such as paper on Mondays, plastic on Tuesdays, and so on. 'It is not just our problem. All recyclers and social enterprises face the same issue. If Malaysians followed practices like cleaning before recycling, as it's done in Japan and Australia, we would see more grassroots efforts succeed,' De La Harpe added. Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) will be delivering the glass bottles it collects directly to the centre. Friday's launch was officiated by Kapayan assemblyman Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, who said the initiative is an example of how community-led action can align with and strengthen government environmental goals. Some of the materials collected will be repurposed into items like mobile phone holders, book covers and decorative pieces, and sold at outlets both here and in Kuala Lumpur. The movement's flagship store, Upcycle Shack, founded by Yap, is currently Ripple's only operating social enterprise, but there are plans to replicate the model to encourage more artisanal upcycling businesses. 'Response has been very encouraging. We earn between RM2,000 and RM3,000 monthly, which helps cover wages, machine upkeep and operating costs,' Yap added. The public is invited to drop off recyclables every Sunday from August, and those interested in volunteering or participating in training may sign up via Ripple's social media platforms.
The Star
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Homes at Gaya Island to be colourful soon, says Bangkuai
KOTA KINABALU: A vibrant transformation is taking shape on Gaya Island, where water villagers are turning their homes into colourful, community-driven tourism attractions. State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai praised the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively involving local residents in revitalising their villages as part of a community-based tourism (CBT) effort. This follows Bangkuai's first meeting with the Meraki Daat Initiative in 2022, where he encouraged the group to adopt a CBT approach to ensure stronger community engagement and shared economic benefits. 'This commitment aligns with the state's push to promote sustainable tourism through initiatives that highlight Sabah's unique identity and culture,' said the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman after a meeting with Meraki Daat Initiative president Michelle De La Harpe on Tuesday (July 1). De La Harpe briefed Bangkuai on the progress of their ongoing Project Picasso, which aims to rejuvenate Gaya Island's water villages and turn them into Instagram-worthy destinations. The project involves creatively painting stilt houses and working with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these villages as tourism hotspots. In June, STB facilitated a workshop involving five water villages on Gaya Island, namely Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan, and Kampung Pondoh. The villages are now working towards formal registration under the Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island umbrella. 'This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. Developing community-based tourism here will add value for the villagers, especially given the island's close proximity to the city centre. 'However, it is essential to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable tourism environment, and that starts with strong local participation and ownership,' Bangkuai said. During the meeting, he also launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition, themed Ocean Creatures, aimed at encouraging community creativity and enhancing the visual appeal of the villages. De La Harpe shared that the project also integrates youth development, environmental sustainability, and the arts to transform public spaces into vibrant, community-owned tourism attractions. 'We are currently building a 200m pathway leading to the volleyball court using eco-bricks made from recycled plastic waste. This innovation won the United Nations Development Programme's Island Waste Innovation Challenge last year,' she added. The art competition runs from June 30 to July 31, with judging scheduled for Aug 1–7. Site painting will take place from Aug 20–27, culminating in the official mural launch and opening ceremony on Aug 31. The public can follow updates on the Meraki Daat Initiative via their website at and on their social media platforms.
