Malaysian teams showcase water conservation innovations

Federal Express Corporation, a global leader in express transportation, has announced the six winners of the 2024 FedEx/Junior Achievement International Trade Challenge (FedEx/JA ITC) Malaysia Finals. These students will represent Malaysia at the FedEx/JA ITC Asia, Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) regional finals in Singapore this August.

For 16 years, FedEx has collaborated with Junior Achievement (JA) Malaysia to nurture the growth and development of Malaysian youth through the ITC program. This initiative provides students with team activities and tailored workshops focused on global trade, preparing them for future success as commerce leaders.

The winners, grouped into three teams, were selected based on their innovative solutions for water conservation—a crucial issue given Australia’s recent extreme heat impacting ecosystems and infrastructure. Here are the winning teams and their products:

Team: The Randoms

• Students: Cheong Chun Kit & Yeong Yun Lam
• School: Catholic High School
• Product: Shower Timer
• Description: A device that limits shower duration and preheats water. Users can monitor and control their water usage via an app, enhancing awareness and saving water and money.

Team: Aqua Wonders

• Students: Shivani Unnamalai A/P Sinna Annamalai & Julia Jasmine Binti Jufri
• School: SMK Convent Green Lane
• Product: Circulon
• Description: An advanced water filter that collects wastewater from throughout the house, decontaminates, filters, and recirculates it.

Team: Hydro Quest

• Students: Anshul Bangalore Aratish & Hwang Yeseong
• School: Tanarata International School
• Product: Mini Sprinkler
• Description: A device providing the right amount of water at the right time for plants, ensuring their healthy growth without the owner’s presence.

The regional finals, returning to an in-person format for the first time since the pandemic, will see Malaysian students compete with peers from Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. This event promises a unique opportunity for collaborative brainstorming, idea exchange, and constructive discussions among students from diverse cultural backgrounds.

“I am deeply impressed by the passion, enthusiasm, and perseverance from these young and talented students,” said Woon Tien Long, managing director of FedEx Malaysia. “They have really gone above and beyond to demonstrate their creativity and out-of-the-box thinking, which is crucial in today’s business environment. The ITC program creates an opportunity for young talents to amass their ideas and transform them into reality, which is a critical component of entrepreneurship. This program also embodies our vision of developing future business leaders and equipping them for the dynamic and rapidly changing macroenvironment.”

Since its inception in 2008, the FedEx/JA ITC competition has seen over 9,200 Malaysian students participate, with two students reaching the Top 3 teams at the Regional Finals in 2019. The 2024 competition continues to build on this legacy, encouraging the next generation of business leaders.

For more information about the 2024 FedEx/JA ITC, please visit the JA Malaysia website at www.jamalaysia.org.