The much-anticipated DIY Made Simple competition returns for its ninth edition, inviting secondary schools across Malaysia to participate in this nationwide challenge. The competition encourages students to use their creativity and problem-solving skills to tackle real-world sustainability issues, with a focus on turning waste into a valuable resource.
This year’s theme, “Waste to Energy: Innovate for a Greener Future,” challenges students to develop innovative ways to convert solid waste into usable energy sources. As Malaysia grapples with a growing waste problem, the waste-to-energy (WTE) approach offers an effective and sustainable solution. By reducing the pressure on landfills and contributing to green energy initiatives, this approach aligns with Malaysia’s environmental and energy policies, helping to achieve the national goal of a 40% recycling rate by 2025.
The competition aims to inspire students to think outside the box and come up with solutions that can have a positive environmental impact. Examples of innovative projects might include designing solar panels made from electronic waste, creating electric generators from plastic waste, or developing LED lights powered by bio-batteries. Other potential projects could focus on mini turbines using wastewater, producing batteries from metal waste, or even exploring hydrogen production from wastewater.
As always, the competition offers fantastic rewards for the winning teams. The champion team will walk away with RM4,000 in cash, while second and third-place teams will receive RM3,000 and RM2,000 respectively. The fourth and fifth-place teams will also be rewarded with RM1,000 and RM500 in cash. In addition, all finalists will be awarded RM300 in MR D.I.Y. cash vouchers, a digital certificate, and a trophy to celebrate their achievements. There is also a special cash prize of RM500 for the team with the most-liked video on YouTube.
Schools interested in participating must submit their entries by 8 May 2025. A distinguished panel of judges, consisting of representatives from Universiti Malaya (UM), Yayasan MR D.I.Y., and the Ministry of Education (MOE), will review the entries and shortlist 16 schools. The shortlisted schools will collaborate with lecturers from UM’s Faculty of Built Environment to refine their ideas and present them during the final judging event, which will take place in August at Universiti Malaya.
The ‘DIY Made Simple’ competition is a joint effort by Yayasan MR D.I.Y., the philanthropic arm of MR D.I.Y. Group (M) Bhd, Universiti Malaya’s Community Engagement Centre (UMCares) and Faculty of Built Environment, and the Ministry of Education’s Sports, Co-Curriculum, and Arts Division. This collaboration aims to empower students to develop real-world solutions to environmental challenges and foster a new generation of innovators.
For more details on the competition and to register, visit the official competition page at DIY Made Simple Registration. For updates, follow MR D.I.Y. on their social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
This year’s competition provides students with an incredible platform to contribute to the country’s sustainability goals, while also offering valuable opportunities for learning and growth in the fields of science, technology, and innovation. Through this initiative, MR D.I.Y. continues to inspire young minds to create a more sustainable future for all.
