KUALA LUMPUR: The French Embassy in Malaysia organised its ‘Plastic Odyssey’ (Odyssée Plastique) event recently, aimed at raising awareness among young French-speaking learners about sustainable development and protection of the oceans, with a focus on reducing plastic pollution.

The embassy said in a statement today that the event was held at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Rantau Petronas, Kerteh, Terengganu, on June 5 and 6 as part of the Festival de la Francophonie, a global event celebrating French speakers’ abilities to transform the world, held six months leading up to the Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotterets.

‘Odyssée Plastique is a regional initiative that takes place between May and September in a number of cities across Asia, enabling students to improve their command of the French language, and encouraging them to interact in French and immerse themselves in different cultures,’ it said.

Seven public schools (Sekolah Menengah Sains (SMS) Setiu, SMK Sultan Omar, SMS Dungun, SMK Sultan Sula
iman, Integrated Boarding School Batu Rakit (SBPI) Batu Rakit, SMS Hulu Terengganu, and SMK Rantau Petronas) in Terengganu participated in the two-day event.

Activities included a conference from a University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) researcher, a movie screening, a beach clean-up, and interactive workshops by UMT, the Sea Monkey Project, Veolia, Hara Makers, and Kemaman Municipal Council.

‘In collaboration with the French Embassies in the Philippines, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia, as well as the French Consulate in Hong Kong and the French Office in Taiwan, the event aims to spread awareness among students learning French about the themes of sustainability and the prevention of plastic pollution, extending beyond these locations,’ it added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency