MANY kids these days grow up feeling disconnected from nature for various reasons, and one of them is the environment that limits physical movements but increases eye movements on gadgets.
For this reason, Escape Theme Park, an attraction created by Sim Leisure Group in 2012 in Teluk Bahang and led by its founder and executive chairman Datuk Sim Choo Kheng, today launched the Escape Greenie programme for the year 2024.
First introduced in 2009, the eco-literacy programme aimed at primary school children, was developed to encourage the children to develop a love for nature so they will ultimately want to protect and preserve it.
Since 2009, the nature-based initiative, which incorporates a range of do-it-yourself (DIY) activities, has attracted over 25,000 primary school students yearly.
This year, the programme aims to expand its reach to over 150,000 students across Malaysia, including those from underprivileged, disadvantaged, and lower socioeconomic backgrounds.
A dedicated education centre will be established as an integral part of the programme offering at each park, starting at Escape Penang, and eventually expanding to all future Escape theme parks.
This programme will include both in-classroom and outdoor learning.
The Sim Leisure Group is hoping to succeed in this platform over the next three years through partnerships with like-minded companies focused on sustainable education.
During the brief launching ceremony of the programme earlier at the theme park, Sim said one of the most effective ways to approach environmental issues is by engaging with future generations.
“Like I have always said, if we want our future generations to protect our nature, they must first fall in love with it.
“Back then when I was a kid, the forest was my playground.
“During school holidays, I would go out in the morning and spend almost the entire day out with my friends playing in the forest.
“We were so connected to nature, and we were the happiest kids on the planet.
“Kids these days have grown up feeling so disconnected from nature due to the environment they live in now.
“I hope that through this programme, we will be able to create a sense of awareness among them about the importance of loving nature and being part of it as they grow up,” Sim said in his speech.
Sim Leisure will be collaborating with its three corporate partners for this project, namely A&W (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Etika Sdn Bhd and RHB Islamic Bank Berhad.
A&W Malaysia chief executive officer George Ang said that two people have the power to change the world, and they are entrepreneurs and teachers.
He said this referring to Sim, who according to Ang, has changed and redefined the perspective of theme parks in the world.
“And today, on behalf of A&W, I am truly honoured to be part of this project, and I can never thank Datuk Sim enough, an entrepreneur and a teacher at heart for all the efforts he has put in all these years.
“When we were all small, we used to listen to our parents telling us about life and the changes we must go through to achieve good things in life.
“Datuk Sim has fulfilled what our parents used to tell us back then.
“Escape is not only about experiencing and having fun but most importantly, reconnecting with nature and understanding its importance,” Ang said.
Meanwhile, Etika chief executive officer (Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei) Santharuban Thurai Sundaram said he finds the Greenie programme an inspiring initiative and is proud that Etika is associated with it.
“It is amazing to get the kids to come out to connect with nature, embedding the message of sustainability through such programmes.
“It is a huge honour working with Datuk Sim, and we, at Etika, look forward to extending this partnership in the future,” he said.
RHB Islamic Bank Berhad managing director Datuk Adissadikin Ali also thanked Sim Leisure for the opportunity and has vowed to work closely to make this programme a success.
Also present during the event was Escape Penang chief executive officer Philip Whittaker.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Siew Chia En