The Beginning of My Journey
I still remember the very first time I saw a dolphin was when I was just 5 years old. My family took a trip to Ocean Park in Hong Kong where I saw before my very eyes, a dolphin that kissed the dolphin trainer. At that exact moment, I thought to myself, “I want to be just like her.” From then on, my sole purpose as a child was to become a dolphin trainer, to the point where I had told anyone I met, in order to make it true.
For five years, I held on to this dream until one day, my mom showed me a newspaper article on dolphins in captivity, explaining how they take their own lives due to the cruel conditions they endure. I wept that day, knowing my dreams were shattered. I couldn’t bring myself to be part of that world that would hurt the very animals I loved.
My mom then said something that changed the course of my life: “What if you protect and take care of them instead?”
And so i began my pursiot of helping animals whose voices were unheard.
Getting enrolled in a Marine Biology degree had always been my dream since I was young, and I was overjoyed when I finally achieved it. Yet, despite my excitement, I found myself feeling lost. I knew I wanted to work in conservation, had always loved the ocean, but didnt know exactly where I fit within the field.
During one of our first meetings with lecturers and seniors at university, I met Hairil Danial. I confided in him that I wanted to do something meaningful, to build my experiences and skills in marine conservation. That’s when he introduced me to SOA (Sustainable Ocean Alliance) My Ocean Hope. From that point on, I became deeply involved with SOA, and I’ve stayed with them ever since.
The SOA team is like a family—a group of people who support, uplift, and inspire one another. The collaborative environment we’ve created has kept me motivated and has been instrumental in helping me shape my own path in ocean conservation.
Plastic Upcycling Livelihood Project (PULP) to Hermie’s Hub (Social Enterprise)
PULP, our very first project of SOA MY Ocean Hope, began as a creative idea to tackle plastic pollution through beach cleanups, transforming waste into marketable products. The simple idea turned into reality when Uniqlo Sdn Bhd sponsored an upcycling machine from the SeaMonkey Project. Recognizing the potential to expand PULP’s impact, PLAN Malaysia proposed introducing the project to Redang Island, where plastic pollution was a major issue. Thanks to a grant from the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), we secured an additional machine for Redang Island.
Quickly, we learned that simply having the machine wasn’t enough. The local communities needed motivation and structure to participate. That’s when we seized the chance to compete for a RM20,000 startup grant from the Ministry of Higher Education through the University to Community (UTC) 2.0 Program. Winning that grant helped PULP evolve into a full-fledged social enterprise.
While we faced our own challenges, we gained insight into how hard it can be for young people across Malaysia to launch their own initiatives without the kind of support system that SOA provides.
Over the past four years, we have organised a total of seven beach cleanups. Two events, in particular, stand out: The Impactlution Beach Cleanup with Nestle and the International Beach Cleanup Program, which concluded with a webinar attended by 326 participants. The webinar featured Chris Ee from SOA MY Ocean Hope and Abizar Ghiffary from SOA Indonesia. Together, these efforts resulted in the collection of 767.85 kg of plastics. We have even conducted 7 workshops and participated in outreach activities, displaying our booths to engage with the wider community.
MAQIVE: Malaysia Aqua Archive
The Malaysia Aqua Archive, led by the South China Sea Repository and Reference Centre (RRC) at UMT, is dedicated to digitizing Malaysia’s rich biodiversity, featuring high-resolution images and comprehensive datasets. This archive serves as a valuable public resource for researchers, educators, and policymakers. Through two grants from SOA, we have incorporated over 1,000 marine specimens into national and international biodiversity databases like MyBIS and OBIS, contributing to ecosystem preservation and informing policy for sustainable resource management.
In 2023, we hosted the International Digitization Seminar and Workshop, bringing together experts from renowned institutions like the Natural History Museum and the Senckenberg Society. With 528 participants and 185 participants, we aimed to advance global efforts to digitise marine ecosystems and share valuable biodiversity data to support conservation and policy development. Our team, led by Zafeera Ezana, has actively promoted the event via social media and coordinated as emcee to ensure broad participation and engagement.
My Ocean My Hope Leadership Bootcamp
SOA Malaysia and MY Ocean Hope have empowered us to be creative in tackling global ocean issues on a local level. Our efforts include campaigning against deep sea mining, collaborating with other NGOs to raise funds, exploring how our community would respond to future food sources like local sea urchins, and promoting sustainable fishing in protecting marine biodiversity.
We wanted to share our knowledge, resources, and opportunities beyond our university and Terengganu. To achieve this, we gathered 12 youth leaders from across Malaysia to Kapas Island in Terengganu for the My Ocean My Hope Leadership Bootcamp. It was truly inspiring to witness how ideas and solutions come to life when passionate individuals unite for a common cause. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of the SOA network and the French Embassy of Malaysia.
Reflection
This support system gave me the opportunity to travel to Greece for the Our Ocean Summit and Conference, where I connected with youth leaders from across the globe, forming instant friendships and even meeting the legendary Dr. Sylvia Earle. These opportunities don’t come by chance—they are made possible by the dedication of teams like SOA Malaysia, led by Dr. Afiq Durrani bin Mohd Fahmi, Dr. Melissa Beata Martin, Madam Azwarina binti Mohd Azmi Ramasamy, Elvian Masli, and Saw Jiun Ting. Their guidance and connection to the global SOA network allowed us to showcase the best and uniqueness of SOA Malaysia.
Whether it’s PULP, MAQIVE, or the Leadership Bootcamp, each experience has taught me the importance of having a strong support system, collaborating with others, and taking initiative. None of these projects would have succeeded without the tireless efforts of the SOA Malaysia family and the global SOA network supporting us.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned through this journey is that conservation is not just about protecting nature—it’s about communication.
Building meaningful relationships with communities and fellow advocates is essential to achieving shared goals.
Life can take you in unexpected directions. While I’m still exploring where my journey in marine biology will take me, I remain open to whatever lies ahead. The beauty of it all is knowing that each step brings me closer to making a meaningful contribution to the conservation of our planet.
As Dr Afiq said: “Together, let’s create a wave of change—one project and one community at a time!”
Share this article:
Lai Yue
Lai Yue is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology at University Malaysia Terengganu, and Hub Coordinator of SOA Malaysia. Let’s stay connected and make waves together!
Follow Lai Yue on IG: @myoceanhope @laiyue2002
Lai Yue
Lai Yue is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Marine Biology at University Malaysia Terengganu, and Hub Coordinator of SOA Malaysia. Let’s stay connected and make waves together!
Follow Lai Yue on IG: @myoceanhope @laiyue2002