The SJK (C) Kwang Hwa team from Penang presenting their prototype for road safety. They competed against teams from Angola, Brazil, Lebanon, Madagascar and Morocco at the global finals.
Pupils from SJK (C) Kwang Hwa in Sungai Nibong, Penang, were awarded a EUR5,000 (RM23,356) grant at national level to improve school road safety under the VIA Safe Mobility programme.
The team comprising Tan Jie Ling, Low Zi Ning, Oon Xin Jie, Tai Chee Ying and Tan Zhi Ling went on to the global finals where they competed against teams from Angola, Brazil, Lebanon, Madagascar and Morocco.
They presented their innovative road safety solutions, showcasing their ideas to global peers, policymakers and industry leaders.
Under the guidance of their teacher mentor Chan Hui Lee and with help from teachers Lee Hooi Ching and Phang Poh Choo, the team tackled their school’s road safety challenges with creativity and determination.
Their journey began by observing road safety concerns faced by their schoolmates and community – from traffic congestion to pedestrian safety.
This evolved into a mission to create meaningful change through innovative, student-led solutions.
The inspiration to join the programme came from school headmistress Leong Sook Luan.
“The heavy traffic conditions outside our school have always been a concern and I realised this programme could empower our students to take meaningful actions.
“I encouraged our teachers and pupils to collaborate, form a dedicated team and participate in this initiative to make a difference,” said Leong.
Traffic congestion, speeding vehicles and motorists disregarding pedestrian safety around the school vicinity are daily problems faced by the local community around the school.
Without designated pedestrian crossings, the pupils and parents often have to cautiously navigate to stay safe from speeding vehicles.
Targeting these specific challenges, the pupils proposed several innovative solutions including the installation of an automatic barrier gate to manage traffic flow and a prominent sign warning road users about the automatic barrier.
A close-up view of the team’s prototype, highlighting key features such as the automatic barrier gate and pedestrian safety measures.
Additionally, they proposed painting an orange zone on the road 100m before the pedestrian traffic light to alert drivers about the upcoming barrier.
This measure also prompts drivers to slow down and prepare for the school zone ahead.
With the grant, the students plan to turn their vision into reality to create a safer environment for their peers and nearby residents.
The VIA Safe Mobility programme was launched by TotalEnergies Malaysia, in collaboration with Arus Academy.
The initiative, which began in 2022, fosters a culture of awareness and action among young Malaysians.
To date, the programme has engaged 11,964 students through the Education Ministry’s Delima platform that provides free, interactive digital resources to schools, fostering engaging learning experiences and supporting curriculum-based education.
TotalEnergies Marketing Malaysia managing director Jennifer Li said creating road safety began with youth education and empowerment.
“Programmes like VIA foster a culture of safe road usage among youths, by giving them the tools to advocate positive changes.
“Together, we hope to build a future where our roads are safer for everyone,” she said.
Arus Academy chief executive officer and co-founder Alina Amir said the VIA programme was about empowering students to take charge of their own environments.
“The solutions proposed show how young minds, when given the right tools and guidance, can address real-world problems creatively and effectively,” she said.
Guided by TotalEnergies and Arus Academy, the pupils launched advocacy efforts to refine and implement their solutions.
They engaged local representatives to support their initiatives and collaborated with Penang Island City Council to secure permits for road and pavement modifications.
They also worked with Bike Commute Malaysia, a grassroots organisation advocating for sustainable urban mobility, to gain insights and advice on enhancing their prototype.
