Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiative is one of ALAM’s key national education policy contributions, aimed at embedding sustainability principles into Malaysia’s formal education system and strengthening long-term pro-environmental behaviour among future generations. The initiative was first initiated through strategic engagements with the Ministry of Economy in 2021 and 2022 via national webinars on sustainability education and environmental policy direction, which helped shape early national discourse on ESD.

These engagements led to the Ministry of Education (MOE) appointing ALAM to conduct a nationwide school survey in collaboration with Malaysian research universities. The study assessed the level of ESD integration within selected primary and secondary school syllabuses from Standard 1 to Form 6, as well as its influence on environmental awareness and behavioural change among students and teachers.

The findings highlighted several key gaps and opportunities, including limited ESD integration knowledge among teachers, unclear delivery and value infusion within textbooks and strong dependence on teachers and school leadership in driving effective ESD implementation. The study also found that many ESD activities were community-based and that students’ willingness to learn and practice sustainability values played an important role in successful integration.

The findings were submitted to the Ministry of Education, leading to the formation of the National ESD Network involving MOE, ALAM, and strategic partners including WWF Malaysia, Green Growth Asia Foundation, Universiti Malaya, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UN SDSN), and University of Nottingham Malaysia. Through sustained national engagement and evidence-based advocacy, ESD has now been embedded into Malaysia’s national education direction, including the RMK-13 framework, the Malaysia Education Blueprint, and the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint 2026–2035, marking a significant milestone in mainstreaming sustainability across the education system. Efforts are ongoing to support the implementation of the National ESD Action Plan 2026–2035.

Rumah Baca – Indigenous Women Empowerment and Early Childhood Education

Rumah Baca is part of the broader Royal Belum ecosystem for biodiversity conservation and education and is a community-based education initiative implemented by Amanah Lestari Alam (ALAM) in collaboration with the Perak State Parks Corporation (PSPC) and strategic partners, including Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Melayu Perak (MAIPK), the European Union (EU), the German Embassy, Malaysia Relief Agency (MRA), and Persatuan Pelindung Harimau Malaysia (RIMAU) as a key implementing NGO on the ground.

Established in 2022, Rumah Baca aims to empower Indigenous women while strengthening early childhood education within Orang Asli communities in Royal Belum, Perak. The programme trains Indigenous women as community educators and provides early learning opportunities for Indigenous children aged 4 to 6 years, integrating literacy, numeracy, and environmental awareness to foster early appreciation of forest conservation and stewardship.

The initiative actively strengthens community resilience by encouraging early education pathways for children, while creating income opportunities and leadership roles for Indigenous women. Through continuous engagement and culturally grounded learning, Rumah Baca also contributes to nurturing future Indigenous leaders and environmental stewards committed to protecting their land, forests, and biodiversity. From an initial single Rumah Baca centre, the programme has expanded to four Rumah Baca centres across four Orang Asli villages in Royal Belum. To date, the initiative has supported the transition of more than 100 Indigenous children into formal primary education, reinforcing long-term educational continuity and community-driven conservation outcomes.

Sinar ALAM (New Initiative)

Sinar ALAM is ALAM’s signature grant and crowdfunding platform designed to strengthen environmental governance, mobilise sustainable financing and scale high-impact environmental initiatives through multi-stakeholder collaboration, launched in 2025.

It provides a transparent and accountable mechanism for managing contributions from corporate partners, donors, foundations and strategic stakeholders to support environmental education, biodiversity conservation, climate action, rehabilitation and community-based sustainability programmes.

To date, ALAM has awarded two Sinar ALAM grants focused on marine conservation, including the protection of mangrove ecosystems and broader terrestrial and marine biodiversity. These initiatives contribute to safeguarding critical ecosystems within the Coral Triangle and support efforts in coral conservation and environmental protection. Through Sinar ALAM, ALAM enables blended financing approaches, crowds in sustainable funding, and expands support for grassroots environmental initiatives aligned with national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).