Small Steps, Big Impact: Empowering Rural Women Through Recycling Innovation
BESUT, TERENGGANU, 8 NOVEMBER 2025 – The School of Health Sciences (PPSK), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), continues to strengthen its role in community development through the implementation of the ‘From Waste to Wealth’ programme held at Masjid Kampung Lak Lok, Mukim Pelagat, Besut, Terengganu.

Funded by the Innovation and Social Research Fund of the Ministry of Higher Education (KPT) and the Academic Research Grant of Universiti Sains Malaysia, the initiative highlights the importance of environmental sustainability through community education and economic empowerment. The programme aims to encourage creativity and self-reliance among B40 women, helping them turn household waste into new sources of income.

The programme coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Marwanis Anua as main researcher together with Dr. Mujahid Bakar as co-researcher themed as “3R: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” A total of 34 women participants from the local community took part in a series of engaging activities, including a 3R awareness talk by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Siti Marwanis, an interactive quiz session, a product marketing talk by Program Director, Nur Fatin Izyan Mohamad Helmi, and a hands-on soap-making practical by using used cooking oil.

Through this activity, participants gained valuable knowledge on waste management while learning to produce multipurpose bar and liquid soaps that could be commercialized. In total, approximately 4.5 kilograms of used cooking oil were successfully transformed into 35 to 40 bars of soap and about 4 litres of multipurpose liquid soap.

Special appreciation to the Jawatankuasa Pembangunan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JPKK) Lak Lok Luar and Ahli Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Masjid Lak Lok for their collaboration and support throughout the programme. Beyond raising awareness of sustainable living practices, the programme also aims to inspire rural communities to recognize the economic potential of household waste. As a continuation of the initiative, each participant received a soap-making kit, enabling them to apply the skills learned and continue producing recycled products at home.