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Kota Kinabalu: Dr. Sirhajwan Idek, an English language teacher at Keningau Vocational College (KVC), has been selected as one of the recipients of the Sustainability Waste Awareness and Responsible Action (SWARA) Awards.

The award presentation was organised by the Southeast Asian Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (SEAMEO BIOTROP), an educational organisation based in Bogor, Indonesia. Winners were announced during a hybrid award ceremony held on December 10.

Out of 12 finalists, four were selected to receive awards in the form of certificates of achievement, award plaques, and cash prizes. The four awards presented were Best Practice, Best Programme Concept, Public Choice Award, and Special Award.

The awards recognise outstanding food waste management initiatives across Southeast Asia that have created a positive impact through effective food waste reduction and processing.

Dr. Sirhajwan, the only finalist from Malaysia, was chosen to receive the Special Award for his efforts in guiding and empowering students at KVC Keningau to upcycle food waste such as fish scales, fruits, and rice into food products, cosmetic ingredients, and cleaning products.

Through these initiatives, the students have won awards in various competitions, published academic articles in journals, and successfully commercialised some of their products.

They have also carried out volunteer work using their innovative products, such as cleaning school drains with cleaning agents made from green food waste. In fact, both the students and their innovations have received coverage from local media.

He named the project “Upcycled Food Waste Social Entrepreneurship” for his participation in the award. Dr. Sirhajwan, who previously received recognition for his contributions to improving English language education and promoting an innovation culture at his college—such as the ELTons Innovation Awards from the British Council in 2024 and the National Charismatic Youth Icon Award from the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2022 —sees his mother, Hajah Bintek Haji Abdul Rahman, as his source of inspiration and role model.

The college director, Lumang Anak Lang, extended his congratulations on the achievement, stating that the recognition proves that the teaching profession is a noble and highly significant responsibility in driving impactful change in society and the environment through the role of educators.