The need for a proper, sustainable waste management system at the Lahad Datu market is critical. Situated at the polluted river mouth, the water is clogged with anything from chicken parts and rotting produce to floating Styrofoam ice box. Led by Vincent Wong, a group of youths got together to tackle the problem head on, creating a sustainable circle of activities that include river cleaning, waste management, and composting campaign. 

The lack of English proficiency cost rural youth the chance to prove themselves. Faisal realizes this having conducted various English seminars and workshops in Pahang. He now plans to reach out to 12 more rural areas around the country with the similar approach.

How many people you know can perform basic CPR in case of an emergency? Waqiyuddin and his group of friends from Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences are determined to raise awareness and make Basic Life Support (BLS) second nature to the young.

Not knowing the correct technique to face employers in interview sessions is the #1 challenge all graduates face. FrESH will create a gateway for the participants to prepare mentally and physically to have a better prospect in approaching their likely employees.

Leaderonomics is a social enterprise with a vision to grow people into leaders and build affectionate communities. It focuses on helping people build their leadership capabilities and grow into community leaders that is passionate in making a difference in the world. The DIODE Youth Leadership Camp, targeting youths from the ages 13 – 16, is initiated to fill in the absence of a systematic direction for creating leaders among youth.

We hear about cleaning rivers all the time. But how do we ensure the sustainability of the river environment? “Breed fishes,” says Cyril, who is keen on returning Sungai Lidan to its old beauty and serenity.

Going from kampong to kampong to hold a carnival to teach English? Suzila is mad enough about the language and teaching to push this grass-root initiative in the villages in Perak. A passionate, proactive educator, she strongly believes getting students to participate in games and competition-based workshops is a shortcut to improve proficiency. English Idol calls out to students to shed their inhibitions, step up to the mic and be bold in their efforts.

Parallel to the famous Chinese proverb "Give a man a fish and he won't starve for a day. Teach a man how to fish and he won't starve for his entire life”, the youth of Kampung Batu-Batu are set to equip the locals with a skill which will fix their mobile phones and make some extra income out of it at the same time.

Mastering how to become an effective public speaker can be the vital difference between success and failure in your life. And Ralph is ready to prove his points with VOICE – a workshop to help youth overcome their fear of speaking in public.

When we talk about recycling, one almost always imagines re-using bottles and collecting tin cans. But have you ever thought that the oil you just fried your food in might fuel a school bus? 23 year-old Vinesh and his team are collecting used cooking oil from school canteens and F&B outlets to be converted into Biodiesel. They plan to create an infrastructure for students in schools to trade used cooking oil from homes, indirectly reducing environmental degradation.

Nik Mohd Faiz Destinasi Seni

Armed with a strong passion for art and craft and a knack for business, Nik plans to bring the spotlight to a batik community in suburban Kelantan. Nik devises a program to help improve the livelihood of the local youths through quality Batik production and efficient marketing strategies.

The importance of health cannot be emphasized enough in today’s fast paced lifestyle. Women especially are in need of “getting out of the homes” and adapting a healthier lifestyle. The essence of health is keeping fit and Panjalai Karisnan believes that women can line-dance their way to health.

Gillian Valerie Chong Tze Yen Expedition AGAPE Malaysia 2012

Children in shelter homes are always at the receiving end. While charity is a good thing, it cannot be easy for the recipients, who often suffers from the loss of confidence. Seldom are these children called upon to make a difference in others' lives. Expedition AGAPE Malaysia aims to do just that: empower the children to improve the lives of others.

Khairuddin Abdul Aziz The Choice is in Your Hands - School Talk Campaign

What would you do if you were given a second chance? Founder of Drug Free Youth Association Malaysia (DFYA), Khairuddin was a drug user once upon a time. He decided it was time for action when he witnessed school children as young as twelve succumbing to drugs.

Hannah Nazri Projek Kalsom 17

Reaching out to the youth of Malaysia is possible despite being away. Projek Kalsom 17 is a perfect example of that. A group of Malaysian undergraduates from the United Kingdom has been running this project during their summer holidays in Malaysia since 1994. Projek Kalsom 17 elevates the potentials of secondary school students with excellent exam scores. The project focuses on strengthening soft skills among 200 aspiring 16-year olds.

An older peer has the power to change your life. As a kid, Loke Min used to struggle in math and science, until his cousin, a top student, stepped in to guide the young boy. His mentoring helped to eventually make Loke Min a PhD holder. The way Loke Min sees it, Malaysia is a family, and we’re all cousins, if not yet brothers and sisters. It is now time for our youth to play their role in the family.

Leow Ze Tong MYC: Malaysian Youth Changemakers

What if the world is run by the young? Not that incredible a notion if you think about it, since many of the day’s biggest challenges will affect youth the most. Basing his project on the UN Youth Delegate model, Ze Tong wants to draw more youths towards the sphere of decision making by creating awareness and impacting the society through small community improvement projects.

Ahmad Humaizi Udin @ Uzir Nature T-shirt Project

Youths in the rural area often find limited opportunities and avenues to express themselves. Working in a post office for the past several years, Humaizi witnessed this restless energy. A great example of how change could start at the local level, Humaizi’s project will train unemployed youths with new skills, get them off the streets and raise environmental awareness to boot.

Mohd Faridzul Asyraf Mat Arifin Kelantan Weight Loss Challenge

He is only 23 but it looks like Faridzul has found his calling as a motivator. When he applied to us to get on-board his weight loss programme, the young man has completed five cycles helping people lose a collective 100 kg. Faridzul makes it clear that this is not just a project that is serious about promoting healthy living and correct eating, it is also big on fun.

Jazz Tan Youth Jam my harapan

YOUTH JAM rope in small projects from all over Malaysia and bundle them up into one mega event. Led by the inspiring and enterprising Jazz Tan, the annual event, now in its third year, will host sub-events in diverse subjects from personal finance to public speaking, from graffiti to graphic design. It is youth giving youth what they want, and it achieves Dana Belia’s ultimate aim is: to galvanize!

Fazilah Saugi Projek Refleksologi Asli

Fazilah's project aims to offer a permenant avenue for the people with disabilities (OKU) in her hometown to generare income. This long time social worker believes the best gift you can give an OKU is the right tool to gain success and independence. With proper training and the right infrastructure, the participants of her project will be able to increase their income and living standards.

Football – a family affair ! Meet Zahid, a young enthusiastic lad from Damansara who grew up watching his father train aspiring footballers. The Akademi Bola Sepak Kota Damansara has been a training ground for youngsters for the last 12 years. Now, Zahid intends to further reach out to boys from all walks of life to chase their ultimate sports dream. Zahid is fanatical about the sport and foresees a very competitive and engaged Malaysia in the football arena.

When we talk about turning trash into treasure, we rarely think about it as an art that already exists in Malaysia for generations. Amzari, a 29-year old from Johor, is keen on saving the planet and at the same time preserve the intricate art of woodturning. As more and more tourists are purchasing “green” handicrafts, Amzari sees an opportunity to expand his knowledge and educate more people of his inherited art.

Four enthusiastic friends - Hasnizam, Azizul, Jon and Aadila are set to prove that creative entrepreneurs are not an oxy-moron. UV was actually inspired by the personal struggles of its founders to start a business. A platform to collectively share experiences, UV aims to provide participants with core skill sets and facilities required so entrepreneurs concentrate fully on their business and look at creative entrepreneurship as a serious career channel.

Ever dreamt of rebuilding a nation? The E.P.I.C. project has dream of its own – to rebuild homes of the indigenous of Malaysia in various Orang Asli kampungs. Initiated in 2006, E.P.I.C. now aims to spread wider and built more homes with a global volunteer target. It is an excellent platform for Malaysian urban youths to build relationships with the Orang Asli. This also builds character, the right mindset and attitude.

Kevin Zahri Abdul Ghaffar RakanSukan.com

Everybody, come out and play! Kevin Zahri, 33, local fitness celebrity / web designer is creating RakanSukan.com for all sports fans – beginners or pros, young and old - to congregate and share. In order for Malaysia to reach sporting excellence, Kevin thinks the country first need to have a sports-crazy mass. And what better way to do that than creating a platform to hook up and meet up. Rakansukan.com will keep a database of its members' profiles and post updates on where to practice and what tournament to play. From congkak to chess, from futsal to fencing, use Rakansukan.com to get organized.

Koh Kang Boon ASAP: Anti Smoking Short Film

A creative crutch does not have to be deadly. To aspiring indie film maker Aaron Koh, the notion that creative people have to light up for inspiration is severely misguided. He, for one, is proof to the contrary. Getting the message through to youth is not going to be easy, but Aaron is up to the challenge. ASAP is a short film that will try to create impressions of not just the danger of smoking, but how it could affect their relationship with the people around him. Using narrative and songs, Aaron is ready to call Action!

Sharifah Nur Fardilah binti Wan Saufi Project SOFEss.com

What if there’s a social networking Wiki for Malaysian students? Free online tutorials for exam papers? Nur Fardilah realised that not all parents could afford to send their children for tuition classes, just like in her case when she was in school. One day, prompted by her youngest sister, it hit this university student that online education could be free. Just like Wiki, students and teachers can contribute for the content and together build the data bank for others to use, for free.

Nasrul Amri bin Samsudin AppsMalaysia

Many a times, great ideas fizzle out when a start-up apps entrepreneur faces the realities of getting a business afloat. Nasrul Amri, who runs his own software company, knows all about the risks and rewards involved. Passionate and industry savvy, 29 year old Nasrul wants to spearhead an apps community that helps establish a sustainable local market for app development: by supporting youth entrepreneurs, designers and developers. AppsMalaysia will be the ultimate avenue for apps matchmaking, investing in killer ideas and taking that passion and creativity into the market.

Site Rohanie Ramlie Kursus Usahawan, Kecantikan & Jahitan

With a background in vocational training and a genuine love for social work, Site could see that there is more she can do to contribute to the community. The business-like way she approached her Kursus Usahawan, Kecantikan dan Jahitan, coupled with her passion to make a difference even in the smallest way, is inspiring. To her, it's not enough to train the underprivileged with new skills. You have to provide them the right tools and have an active tracking system when they leave the course to gauge the success. Site makes us want to join her cause.

Thayalan Elangainathan Pertandingan Fotografi 1Malaysia

The meaning of 1Malaysia varies across individuals. For Thayalan, beyond the cliché images, the spirit lives in many ways in our everyday interaction. This 40 year old management consultant believes promoting 1Malaysia through creative photography gives the opportunity to showcase the unique mixture of culture. 1Malaysia Photography Competition would not only provide a chance for the aspiring photographers to speak through their pictures, but also stir the young creative minds to realize the 1Malaysia unity.