Toyota Eco Youth 2025 (TEY), an environmental education initiative by UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) and the Ministry of Education, has concluded today with SMK Khir Johari crowned as the winner for the 24th edition of the programme.
The final exhibition and convention was held over two days from 28 to 29 October and brought together 15 finalist teams from hundreds of contenders nationwide. The teams presented projects addressing critical issues such as urban flooding, textile, food waste, and air pollution.
TEY is Malaysia’s longest-running environmental education initiative, aimed at cultivating environmental awareness and encouraging respect for the environment among youth in secondary schools.
To participate, each school must first submit a video highlighting environmental issues within its local communities. From there, the top 30 schools are shortlisted to advance to the next phase — a series of workshops and training sessions to prepare them for the implementation of their projects. During this stage, participants provide regular progress updates to their assigned mentors for guidance and evaluation.
Once the projects are implemented, teams assess their effectiveness before entering the judging process. The top 15 finalists are then selected to advance to the grand finals, where they will exhibit their projects to a panel of judges and compete to win cash prizes with a total purse worth up to RM167,000 in grants and prizes.
Students were trained to apply Toyota’s 8-Step Problem-Solving Methodology to identify and analyse problems to implement their projects accordingly. Each project was evaluated for creativity, community impact, and long-term sustainability.
The winners of TEY 2025 and their respective objectives are as follows:
- Champion – SMK Khir Johari, Kedah, (Food Waste Reduction) – RM30,000
- 2nd Place – SMK Mohd Khalid, Johor, (E-Waste Reduction) – RM20,000
- 3rd Place – Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Kedah, (Illegal Waste Control) – RM10,000
- Best Social Media Campaign – Kolej Sultan Abdul Hamid, Kedah, (Illegal Waste Control) – RM5,000
- Best Presentation – SMK Mohd Khalid, Johor, (E-Waste Reduction) – RM5,000
- Best Exhibition – SMK Kota Kemuning, Selangor, (Drainage Improvement Project) – RM5,000
- Most Supportive Teacher – SMK Khir Johari, Kedah, (Food Waste Reduction) – RM2,000
In total, UMWT says that RM77,000 worth of cash prizes were awarded, recognising excellence in project implementation, communication, and mentorship.
UMWT President, Datuk Ravindran, said, “Witnessing the 2025 participants apply structured problem-solving to deliver tangible, community-driven environmental change is truly inspiring.”
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“These young individuals have moved from beyond awareness into action, demonstrating leadership, resilience, and innovation in overcoming real-world issues. They represent the spirit of Mobility for All by showing how progress can move communities forward toward a greener and more sustainable future,” he added.
The company assures that the programme will continue to reflect Toyota’s “Mobility for All” vision, a belief that empowers communities through purposeful progress. By encouraging students with these initiatives and resources, the company adds that the programme will continue to “cultivate a generation that is ready to champion sustainability and shape a brighter, cleaner Malaysia.”
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