The student-led environmental campaign “Touch Grass,” organised by MSc International Business Communication students from Asia Pacific University (APU) successfully concluded its flagship event, “Plant the Future” at the Free Tree Society nursery in Bangsar.
The half day workshop brought together 15 participants for an immersive and hands-on learning experience. The group departed APU at approximately 8:45 a.m. using university provided transport and arrived at the nursery for an early start to the programme. The session was also attended by APU lecturer Mr. Ninderpal Singh Balwant Singh who accompanied the students.
The workshop began with an engaging session led by Lydia Lubon, Bangsar Nursery Programme Manager at Free Tree Society who introduced participants to biodiversity, pollination and the importance of bees and native plants in maintaining ecosystems. The session also made participants realise the pressing environmental concerns like water depletion, waste management, plastic pollution, and climate change, giving them both local and global perspectives.
Following the talk, participants took part in practical activities including composting and planting allowing them to be acquainted with sustainable practices. Each participant received four free plants to take home, thus achieving the campaign’s goal of encouraging continued environmental action beyond the workshop.
As part of the Touch Grass campaign, a fundraising initiative was conducted to support Free Tree Society’s ongoing efforts. Through participant contributions, on-campus booth setup, and the RM2 challenge, a total of RM975 was raised and presented to the organisation. Representatives from Free Tree Society expressed appreciation for the contribution, noting that such initiative-driven fundraising by student groups is both impactful and uncommon.
The event also reflected wider engagement, with ‘Refiller Mobile’, an eco-friendly refill service, present outside the nursery, further emphasising sustainable living practices.
The campaign was successfully organised by a student team including Rebecca Tschakste, Campaign Director; Kings Ferrels Kondowe, Communication & Strategy Lead; Steven Adam Gifford, Finance & Fundraising Coordinator; Nihla Abdul Jalal, Social Media & Content Lead; Mohamad Zameer bin Habni Amin, Event & Logistics Coordinator; and Zikrunnahar, Documentation Officer.
Thus, “Plant the Future” successfully combined education, hands-on experience and community impact that aligns with the campaign’s mission to promote environmental awareness and encourage sustainable habits among young individuals in Malaysia.
For more information, visit: Instagram: @touchgrass.apu
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