Kuala Lumpur, 18 August 2017 – Taylor’s University recently gave its KL2017 SEA Games ‘Green Volunteers’ a rousing send-off. The 144 strong ‘Green Volunteer’ contingent from Taylor’s University comprises students and lecturers from the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events, School of Architecture, Build & Design, School of Biosciences, School of Language, Arts & Social Sciences, Taylor’s Business School, Taylor’s Law School, School of Engineering, School of Computing & IT, School of Education, as well as School of Communication. 

Dressed in vibrant green t-shirts, the volunteers are on a mission to ensure the KL2017 SEA Games will be eco-friendly. Stationed around stadiums during the KL2017 SEA Games, from 19 to 30 August, the ‘Green Volunteers’ will help promote environmental awareness and sustainability practices to the public.

Taylor’s University, Executive Dean for Faculty of Hospitality, Food and Leisure Management, Dr Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, was at the send-off party for the University’s first batch of ‘Green Volunteers’. “This is an exciting moment for Taylor’s University. We are proud that our students have the opportunity to ensure KL2017 SEA Games will be truly successful ‘Green Games’ as advocated by our Youth and Sports Minister, YB Khairy Jamaluddin.” 

“At Taylor’s University, we believe learning can take place anywhere, anytime, and it is a lifelong process. With that in mind, we are pleased that our students can contribute to environmental conservation through the ‘KL2017 SEA Games Green Volunteers’ project. It’s never too young to start being a ‘green warrior’,” said Dr Neethiahnanthan. 

Veon Lai Tze Ying, first year student from Taylor’s School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events, said, “It is wonderful to see that so many young people are concerned about conserving the environment. By being a green volunteer, I am motivated to help spread  greater awareness on green practices. Personally, this would be an eye-opening event as I will be able to witness first-hand how sustainability is being implemented at all stages of the event planning and management.”

Malaysia aims to make the 29th SEA Games the first ‘Green’ and ‘Eco-friendly’ SEA Games in history. A total of 1,000 university students, called ‘Green Volunteers’, from five local public and private universities have been recruited and trained to help spread awareness on the importance of maintaining environmental sustainability to the public.