Honda Malaysia recently announced the winners of its ‘The Environment and I’ essay and photo contest at a prize giving ceremony held in conjunction with the company’s Rhino Discovery Roadshow at the Ikano Power Centre, Mutiara Damansara, Selangor.

The contest had a total of RM45,000 worth of prizes which went to 14 winners from around Malaysia. The Grand Prize winner, Ungku Farah Wahidah Ungku Ismail of Sekolah Kebangsaan Convent Batu Pahat, Johor, won a travel package for 2 adults/1 child to Sepilok in Sabah while her school received RM800 worth of book vouchers. She was given the honour of reading a portion of her winning essay to the public after receiving her prize.

Beaming with excitement, the Grand Prize Winner said: “ I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep last night. This is very memorable because tomorrow is my birthday! It is the best birthday gift for me.”

Honda Malaysia's MD/CEO with the Grand Prize winner and a teacher from her school in Batu Pahat, Johor

Participating in contests is not new to Ungku Farah as she loves the challenge that comes with it. “It was the most challenging contest that I have participated in so far. I took 7 days to complete the essay and drawing as I also had to prepare for my exams. I researched for information from newspapers and books for my essay.”

Commenting on the contest, Honda Malaysia MD/CEO Atsushi Fujimoto said that the purpose of the contest was to encourage future generations to care for the environment and, at the same time, to increase awareness and build understanding on environment conservation and extinction, especially amongst primary school students.

Mr. Fujimoto said that, in participating, students were encouraged to share their ideas on how to save the environment that they can practise in their daily lives and submit it together with a photo of the activity.

“We believe that through this contest, our children will have a better understanding of the importance of environment conservation and its effect on animal extinction,” he added.

The “Environment and I” essay and photo contest was held throughout the month of April 2008 and was opened to all primary school students in Malaysia. Students who participated in the contest were required to write an essay of between 400-800 words, in Malay or English. Each essay had to be accompanied by a photograph and caption showing an activity undertaken by the participant and their family members to help conserve the environment. The contest received overwhelming response from the students as well as schools. However, some of the schools requested for an extension to the deadline as they wanted to participate as a class project.  In total, Honda Malaysia received close to 620 entries from all over Malaysia.

Honda Malaysia and WWF-Malaysia have organised many talks at schools to create greater awareness of environment conservation and saving the Sumatran rhino

Continuing on the momentum built from the schools talks and the contest, there is the ongoing Rhino Discovery roadshow which will be held at Sunway Pyramid, Petaling Jaya, Selangor this weekend (June 6 - 8 2008). The objective of the roadshows is to create greater awareness and understanding amongst the public of the need to care for the environment and the plight of Sumatran Rhinos in Malaysia.

Scenes from a recent roadshow presented by Honda Malaysia

Globally, Honda aims to give back to the society and environment as Honda strives to become a company that society wants to exist, and the same effort is extended to Malaysia as well.