The next generation of climate innovators and high achievers were recently recognised at the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards for Action on Climate Change.

With climate change being a global threat to humanity, Cambridge International is celebrating the next generation of Malaysian climate innovators with its first Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Action on Climate Change. The award was presented at the ceremony alongside the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, which celebrate learners who excelled in the June 2022 examination series.

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Action on Climate Change is a new nationwide competition, currently being run as a pilot, giving Cambridge students the opportunity to showcase their climate change initiatives and tackle one of the world’s most acute humanitarian crises. Learners participated in the competition by submitting a video and written entry that described the work that they’ve done to combat the climate emergency. The videos produced by the winners will be played on multiple Cambridge International platforms, to raise awareness on the importance of combatting climate change amongst fellow Cambridge learners.

Kanjna Paranthaman, Regional Director Southeast Asia & Pacific, Cambridge International, said, “This year’s awards ceremony is special, as we are not only recognising academic excellence but also celebrating the first Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Action on Climate Change. Based on the current climate situation in Malaysia, it is a critical time for our younger generation to engage in climate action. We believe that early advocacy will instil a more environmentally conscious generation and together with Cambridge International, we hope to encourage them to leave a positive lasting impact on Planet Earth.”

Echoing Kanjna’s sentiments is Ng Kim Huat, Country Director, Malaysia and Brunei, Cambridge International, who added, “It is heartwarming to see the younger generation take a more active role in combating climate change. Hopefully, the efforts shown today will inspire and motivate a better mindset for those who come after.”

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards 2022 saw 200 learners from 64 schools receiving recognition for the Best Across Three Cambridge International A Levels, Best Across Four Cambridge International AS Levels, Best Across Eight Cambridge IGCSEs, High Achievement, Top in World or the Top in Malaysia award. Several high achieving students won multiple awards during the ceremony; the list of high achievers are as follows:

Thang Wan Er and her teammates Ayden Lew Ju Rey, Danielle Chang Keen Yee, and Kenji Tai won the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Action on Climate Change with their winning submission focused on composting. According to Wan Er, “Climate change has always been a growing concern for me whilst growing up and today it is one the of world’s leading issues. This is why it is crucial for us to play our part and contribute positively towards the climate change competition, which was what drove my team from Wesley Methodist School Kuala Lumpur to come up with the amazing idea to focus on composting, so we decided to use that as our base idea and tweak it in a way where it would benefit the whole community around us.”

Wan Er, who also received the “Top in Malaysia” award added “At home, my siblings have set a high academic benchmark for me, which motivated me to work harder to achieve the same or emulate their achievements. The academic recognition for the Top in Malaysia award now sets me on a path that will make me strive to improve and continue excelling in my studies.”

To learn more about the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards, please visit www.cambridgeinternational.org, and for the Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award for Action on Climate Change, head over to www.cambridgeinternational.org/action-for-climate-change.

All images courtesy of Cambridge International.