Empowering Malaysia’s Young Changemakers with Hands-on Learning, Mentorship, and RM170,000 in Grants and Prizes
SHAH ALAM, 1 APRIL 2026 – UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, has officially commenced the Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) 2026 Workshop from 30–31 March, ahead of the programme’s Official Opening on 1 April 2026 at Wyndham Acmar, Klang. Following a nationwide call for entries earlier this year, 327 submissions were received from secondary schools across Malaysia, reflecting the enthusiasm of students eager to address environmental issues within their communities.
Now in its 25th edition, the initiative has evolved into a national platform that cultivates environmental awareness and encourages practical, real-world problem-solving among secondary school students aged 13–16. The programme challenges students to identify local environmental issues and implement sustainable solutions using Toyota’s structured Problem Solving Methodology, reflecting its long-standing impact in nurturing Malaysia’s next generation of environmentally conscious leaders.
“Through Toyota Eco Youth, beyond learning about environmental issues, students will get to develop the skills, confidence, and mentorship support to take meaningful action to become an active member of their communities. Celebrating the 25th Edition, we are proud to empower these young changemakers to translate ideas into tangible, measurable projects that can make a lasting difference in their communities.” said Datuk Ravindran K., President of UMW Toyota Motor.
From the entries received, 30 schools have been shortlisted to participate in the Workshop and project implementation phase. Each shortlisted school will receive a grant of RM3,000, totalling RM90,000, to support project implementation, reinforcing TEY’s emphasis on learning by doing, where students are encouraged to test ideas in real-world settings and refine them through structured execution. TEY 2026 offers RM80,000 in prize money, bringing total programme funding, including grants, to RM170,000. The main awards are outlined below:
Champion – RM30,000
Second Place – RM20,000
Third Place – RM10,000
During the Workshop, students and their teacher-advisors receive hands-on guidance and mentorship to refine their projects, establish implementation plans and track progress. This phase emphasises learning by doing, encouraging participants to apply their problem-solving skills in real-world settings while fostering teamwork, creativity and environmental stewardship. Following on-site evaluations and project progress reviews, the top 15 schools will advance to the final stage during the TEY 2026 Convention and Exhibition from 2–4 November 2026, where they will compete for the programme’s grand prizes.
Toyota Eco Youth continues to inspire Malaysia’s next generation of eco-leaders by providing structured support, practical experience and recognition for students committed to creating sustainable change.
For more information and registration details, please visit https://www.toyota.com.my/toyotaecoyouth/
