NEW TOYOTA ECO YOUTH PROGRAMME EXPAND TO SCHOOLS NATION WIDE

UMW Toyota Motor recently held a launching ceremony of the 12th Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) programme. This year’s programme takes the Toyota Eco Youth to 16 schools nation-wide involving the community surrounding the schools and working closely with the respective local councils or authorities to find necessary solutions to their environmental problems.
Toyota Eco Youth Programme is a major component of UMW Toyota Motor’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme under the environment pillar. The Corporate Social Responsibility pillars also encompass the road safety and philanthropy.
The Toyota Eco Youth programme which was first established in 2001, is a joint effort by UMW Toyota Motor and the Ministry of Education aimed to cultivate environmental awareness and the importance of preservation among young generation. Furthermore, the programme is designed in line with the government’s call for organizations to embark on CSR initiative through various channels. 
Through the years, Toyota Eco Youth programme has received good response with support by the Ministry of Education. In total, there were 146 schools involved, comprised of over 1,600 students, principals and teachers.  Since the inception of Toyota Eco Youth, UMW Toyota Motor has spent over RM 4 million to organize this programme.
Prior to the 12th Toyota Eco Youth programme launching ceremony, a workshop was held for students and teachers from the participating schools to learn the Problem Solving Methodology thoroughly as well as be exposed to environment activities.
Participants this year were brought to visit a factory to observe recycling of the paper mill, carton boxes and roofing. Some also visited the surau and community hall in Shah Alam to witness the community activity of collecting used cooking oil and how it was recycled and turned into biodiesel.
The Toyota Eco Youth Programme theme for this year focuses on solid waste management, clean water, global warming or recycling which are in-line with Toyota’s global and local environment issues.  The respective participating schools were also required to generate publicity about their green effort in their quest to create awareness and to garner participation from their communities. The Toyota Eco Youth will conclude with a convention and prize-giving ceremony, which will be held at the end of this year.
The winner of 2012 Toyota Eco Youth will receive a cash prize of RM 7,000, the second prize winner will receive RM 5,000, third prize winner will receive RM 3,000, and the fourth and fifth prize winners will each receive RM 2,000 and RM 1,000 respectively.