They told her that it won't be easy and that her efforts will be futile. But Pamela Low is one who doesn't give up easily. The 24-year-old National University of Singapore (NUS) graduate started Tingkat Heroes SG to initiate environmental awareness campaigns and events such as NUS's Zero-Waste Roadshow and Tingkat Heroes Sustainability Camp.
We spoke with Pamela to find out more about her motivations to start Tingkat Heroes SG and other environmental initiatives as well as her challenges on this environmental conservation journey.
Scroll on to find out more!
Recognising A Need And A Solution
Pamela first had the notion of recycling regularly at 14 years old when her family participated in a recycling project where she had to dismantle a toy car and separate the plastic parts from the metal parts. Her family then started to separate their trash regularly.
However, an exchange trip to Germany in 2017 was what set Pamela's cause for recycling in stone. On her first day in Germany, Pamela and her friends made a trip to the local supermarket and were told to pay for plastic bags to bag their grocery. Being the kiasu Singaporeans they were, they said no and carried their purchases home with their hands. But kiasu aside, Pamela recognised the effectiveness of a plastic bag charge which helped to conjure up some ideas in her head with regards to creating effective ways to reduce waste and creating a sustainable living culture in Singapore.
From Frustration To Action
Following Pamela's return to Singapore from her exchange programme in Germany, she was increasingly frustrated by the rampant and indiscriminate use of disposables in Singapore, especially on campus with a strong dabao culture.
Pamela sent an email to the NUS administration to propose the implementation of “no plastic straws / disposable cutlery days” so as to reduce the usage of one-time use cutleries on campus. Working with NUS Office of Environmental Sustainability, Office of Housing Services, Office of Campus Amenities, and with the support of NUS President, Pamela managed to reduce disposables on campus by working with decision makers to change policy and achieve impact at scale.
Pamela also organised the NUS first Zero Waste Fest in January 2018 at The Deck and worked with the fruit juice store to implement a disposable charge on disposable cups. The fruit juice uncle even brought in reusable cups to support the initiative as he reminisced the days when people used to drink out of glass cups instead of plastic cups! With this initiative, Pamela could really see the importance of having a charge on disposables when more patrons chose reusables, similar to her experience in Germany.
To document her efforts in sustainable living, Pamela started Tingkat Heroes SG, which was her main channel for eco-friendly initiatives such as the Tingkat Heroes Sustainability Camp and NUS Eco-Fest. Through these initiatives, Pamela addresses the need for better waste management, where consumers and businesses can take active steps and adopt policies that changes the default option from "waste" to "waste?".
Support and Inspiration
To continually stand up for what you believe in can be tiring when there are continual challenges. One of these challenges came from Pamela's mum who "strongly suggested that [she] should not embark" on the environmental project alone but who has since supported her daughter's efforts wholly. In addition, Pamela embarked on this project in her last semester of her undergraduate studies, having to juggle schoolwork, being a teacher assistant and the groundwork of her various environmental projects.
However, Pamela managed to strive on with her beliefs with the support of her friends, or "spies and auditors" in her words. They gave constant updates about Pamela's initiative as they went around the campus and would take photos of themselves supporting the initiative with their reusable cups or to takeaway food. Her friends would also check on her progress and would provide advice whenever she faced some obstacles. Such good friends, aren't they?
Pamela also continues to update herself on environmental conservation news and watch documentaries such as The True Cost and A Plastic Ocean to firm her belief that what she is doing is right. She also looks up to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden and Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin for their efforts in sustainable living. With support from family and friends as well as inspiration from motivational leaders, Pamela was able to strive on with her efforts.
Good, Better, Best
Having earned various awards and scholarships such as the #OCBCCares for the Environment Fund 2018 and HSBC/ NYAA Youth Environmental Award 2018, Pamela's efforts in sustainable living are recognised and valued. However, Pamela believes that much more can be done with regards to environmental conservation and sustainable living.
Pamela is currently finishing up her Smith School Enterprise and the Environment Summer School at Oxford this week, where she learnt useful frameworks, techniques to use in herfuture initiatives. She is planning to set up the Singapore chapter of the “Beyond Individual Action” initiative, which seeks to empower more who want to do more than individual actions, and be a change maker as well.
We believe that her never-give-up spirit and tireless efforts will let her causes come to fruition. As she puts in in her own words,
"Good, better, best. Never let it rest. 'Til your good is better and your better is best. That keeps me motivated, as the work is not done until we take full responsibility."
Every Little Effort Makes A Difference
Like Pamela, you could also do a part for the environment. Take a little time out to research and understand why environmental conservation is an important and pressing issue! On an individual level, there are many things that you can do to help save the environment and help spread these ideas to others so that a concerted effort can amount to something big.
Remember, you too can make a change for a cause you believe in by just taking the first step and making a small difference in your life. Keep yourself motivated and stay focused even when the going gets tough!
About Pamela:
Pamela graduated from National University of Singapore in 2018 with a major in Economics. She is currently working at Sentosa Development Corporation and seeks to empower people who want to do more for environmental conservation in the future.
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Photos by: Pamela Low, Pinterest, Netflix
Text by: Girlstyle SG
