Petaling Jaya, 24 March 2008 - Honda Malaysia is taking their concern for the environment yet another step further with an essay and photo competition. This effort is designed to increase awareness and build understanding on environment conservation and extinction especially amongst primary school students.
The essay and photo competition, which is themed "The Environment and You", is open to all primary school students in Malaysia. Students are encouraged to share their ideas on how to save the environment.
The essay must be between 400 - 800 words, can be in either Malay or English language and is focused on the environment and its impact on animals. Each essay submission must be accompanied by a 4R-size photo with caption on an activity undertaken by the participant and their family members to conserve the environment.
Honda Malaysia Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mr. Atsushi Fujimoto said, "Our children will inherit the earth one day. We want to educate them when they are still young so that they too will learn of the importance of caring for the environment. This competition is just one of the efforts that Honda Malaysia is putting in to encourage our children to learn more and be more aware of our environment."
"Honda Malaysia has been conducting talks in primary schools to share with the children that environment conservation is very important in order to prevent the extinction of endangered animals such as the Sumatran rhinos. Caring for the environment is a long-term commitment and every effort matters. We believe through this kind of competition, our children will have a better understanding of the importance of environment conservation and its effect on animal extinction."
He said that Honda Malaysia being the first corporate to initiate rescue efforts for the Sumatran rhinos is trying to give back to the society and environment as Honda strive to become a company that society wants to exist.
Honda Malaysia is sponsoring the "Save the Sumatran Rhino" programme which began in January 2006 where the company pledged RM5 million to WWF-Malaysia for rhino conservation efforts in Malaysia.
A total of RM40,000.00 worth of prizes are up for grabs in this essay and photo competition. To encourage more participation and hence, wider awareness and understanding on the environment, the school with the most submissions also stand to be rewarded.
The prizes for essay and photo competition are:
| Winner | Prizes | |
| GRAND PRIZE | Student | 4D3N Travel Package to Sepilok for 2 Adults + 1 Kid |
| School | RM 800 worth of books | |
| 1ST PRIZE | Student | 4D3N Elephant Ride in Thailand for 2 Adults + 1 Kid |
| School | RM 500 worth of books | |
| 2ND PRIZE | Student | 3D2N Night Safari & Jurong Bird Park for 2 Adults + 1 Kid |
| School | RM 500 worth of books | |
| 3RD PRIZE | Student | 3D2N Taman Negara for 2 Adults + 1 Kid |
| School | RM 500 worth of books | |
| Consolation x 5 | Student | Swatch Watches x 5 |
| Special Prize for School with most submission | School | 3 sets of Desktop PC |
| Most Creative Prize Winner for Photo | Student | Digital Camera |
| Consolation x 3 | Student | Swatch Watches x 3 |
The essay and photo submissions must reach the address below by 30 April 2008.
The "ENVIRONMENT AND YOU" Essay & Photo Competition
P.O. BOX 8850
PEJABAT POS KELANA JAYA
46799 PETALING JAYA
SELANGOR DARUL EHSAN.
For more information on the essay and photo competition, please log on to: www.honda.com.my/rhino