KUALA LUMPUR: UMW Toyota Motor has launched the Toyota Eco Youth (TEY) 2022/2023 edition with the theme 'Championing Mobility' to develop sustainable solutions for communities.

The TEY sustainability programme aims to instil good environmental habits among the youth and develop them as future caretakers of the planet.

UMW Toyota president Ravindran K said the company is continuously working towards realising its goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050 as part of a more sustainable future.

"This effort extends beyond just our company as we engage students and teachers through the Toyota Eco Youth programmed to develop young minds to think consciously about people and the planet," he said in a statement.

The 2022/2023 edition of the TEY program will see 16 teams develop sustainable solutions in four areas, namely clothing, apps, smart tools, and eco-friendly vehicles, with a focus on 'Mobility For All' to create a positive impact on society through new mobility services in line with Toyota's Global Vision.

Under the programme, students will undergo comprehensive training and be equipped with basic project management skills using Toyota's problem-solving methodology.

They will also receive intensive prototype development training known as 'TEY Makerspace Facilities' at the Prototype Centre Me.reka in Publika to learn the necessary skills to develop their solutions and champion mobility.

Besides exposure to developing sustainable solutions with guidance from experts, participants of TEY stand a chance to win cash from a prize pool of up to RM71,500.

The programme, open to secondary school students, first began in 2001 as a major component of the environmental pillar under UMW Toyota's annual corporate social responsibility programme, while the 'Toyota Problem Solving' approach was introduced the following year.

Since the commencement of the programme 21 years ago, a total of 274 schools and nearly 3,000 students, principals and teachers nationwide have participated, with an estimated RM7 million spent to organise the programme and raise the bar on sustainability efforts among the younger generation.