At just 14 years old, Alyssa, a Rohingya refugee resettled in Malaysia, recognizes the role she can play in sustainability. At the Tzu Chi Recycling Center in Klang, a city in Selangor, Malaysia, Alyssa and her mother, Zin, spend their weekends volunteering to sort recyclables from the community.
“I volunteered to help because I care about our environment and I want to help save our planet,” says Alyssa. Together, Alyssa and her mom work towards their shared goal of helping the environment and supporting their local community.
Malaysia is home to more than 190,000 refugees and asylum-seekers, the majority of whom are from Myanmar, including Rohingya, Chin and other ethnic groups. Refugees in Malaysia face significant challenges due to their lack of legal status, and limited access to healthcare, education and formal employment.
Recycling, for Alyssa, is more than just volunteering. It’s a way to spend time with her mother while connecting over their shared concern for the greater good. Through their work in sustainability, Alyssa and her mother hope to uphold their values of gratitude and responsibility and give back to their community.
