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Suzanne (second from left) spoke about her challenges in setting up The Picha Project at a forum creating a sustainable environment for everyone - Photos are courtesy of U-Schos

Kelvin posing with other panelists after speaking on circular economy and why we should move from the traditional liner economy - Photos are courtesy of U-Schos

KUALA LUMPUR ¨C Suzanne Ling thought she had it all planned out when she completed her studies at ÎåÒ»³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø University to run a social enterprise that is based on a sustainable business model.

The Picha Project co-founder said it was a rocky road convincing clients to subscribe to her business¡¯ ideology and concept that serves up middle-eastern delicacies, cooked by refugees from war-torn nations.

¡°The most frequent queries I get is ¡®are the cooks clean¡¯. It was always difficult approaching conglomerates back in the days and there will be times I felt like giving up.

¡°But our perseverance not to give up showed that it was possible to do what we do,¡± said the Psychology graduate at forum titled ¡°Sustainabileadty¡±.

The Picha Project started off with just one family of refugees in January 2016. Today, there are 12 families from Iraq, Syria, Myanmar, Palestine and Afghanistan earning a decent income through Ling¡¯s startup, which she initiated with several others.

¡°Refugees in Malaysia are unable to get to a job because the law is such. I felt that something could be done because of the dilapidated state of refugees who are living in poverty.

¡°We, at Picha, therefore, thought that why not create a model that will generate income for us, these refugees, and give them a reason to live while serving ¡®hungry people¡¯,¡± she said.

Like Ling, former ÎåÒ»³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø University student Kelvin Yip said his company ¨C Tu.Gu ¨C a social enterprise that empowers farmers in Laos from being exploited by unscrupulous corporations, also faced all sorts¡¯ challenges.

Adopting the circular economy approach in his business, Yip said, the challenge came when marketing and promoting edible and cosmetic produces from plants using recyclable packaging.

¡°Generally, goods that come from recyclable packaging are more expensive. But they are good for the environment especially when we are in the midst of trying to create a sustainable model to ensure that our kids have a place to live in someday,¡± he said.

To overcome this, Yip said, consumers must change their mindset and choose for what is better for the environment over cost.

¡°I understand there are constraints in our purchasing power. But we got to think for what is better for the environment.

¡°Buying goods that will damage the climate and environment will bring no good to the longevity of our home,¡± he said, referring to earth.

To have a mindset as such, Yip said learning institutions should play a role in nurturing the habit.

Citing ÎåÒ»³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø University in embracing the United Nation¡¯s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a point in case, Yip said, more universities should follow suit accordingly.

¡°We don¡¯t need to start something big like holding forums. We could, maybe, enforce switching off lights when not in use or maybe reduce the air-condition temperature,¡± he said,

Little things as such, he said, would shape the mind of the young towards loving the environment and thus changing buying habits to shift from a traditional linear economy to a circular economy.

A circular economy is based on a regenerative model that advocates recycling of goods for the purpose of reducing waste and pollution.

Through Tu.Gu, Kelvin said, farmers are paid a decent remuneration each month. According to Kelvin, there is also a plan to share Tu.Gu¡¯s profits with the farmers once the social enterprise that is based on business-to-business model takes off completely next year.