From the moment I stepped into the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) in March 2025, I obtained experiences that connected research, content creation, and practical activism, I would spend the following two months fully immersed in environmental advocacy, public engagement, and creative communication.

Week 1: Stepping Into the World of Advocacy (10–14 March)

My journey began with a briefing on CAP's objectives and initiatives, with a focus on the Just Energy Transition project. This gave me a solid foundation for understanding how the organisation operates. I started researching energy transition, efficiency, and conservation right away, as well as reading up on plastic pollution and creating a poster for a press conference. Attending webinars on seed diversity and food sovereignty taught me how sustainability connects to food security and farmers’ rights. By the end of the week, I had contributed to writing a script for a CAP documentary titled Ruralization, written and edited my first environmental article, and even helped with a press conference's highlights. It acted as a crash course on how the combination of creativity and research advocacy drives success.

Week 2: Refining Skills and Reaching Schools (17–21 March)

This week, I focused on improving my writing and teamwork. I clarified my paper, attended planning meetings for a school project on energy conservation, and made presentation slides for younger audiences. It was a valuable educational experience to watch prepared materials come to life in front of students during our first outreach session at SJKC Union. When we made changes to our slides in response to feedback received, it was further evidence that advocacy is as much about listening as it is about speaking.

Weeks 3–4: Public Speaking, Media Work, and Documentary Production (24 March–4 April)

I began this period writing about microplastics, preparing for an energy-saving talk, and drafting social media captions for CAP’s events. On 25 March, I gave my first talk at SJK(T) Nibong Tebal, marking my official debut as a public speaker for CAP. The following days blended report writing, school activity planning, and video editing, with occasional deep dives into topics like EV battery management and environmental film festivals. By early April, I had submitted the final “Ruralisation” script, produced energy-saving activity modules, and updated the Malay version of our slides. An in-depth discussion with a CAP research officer about electricity bill structures sharpened my understanding of energy policy knowledge that I would soon share in schools.

Weeks 5–6: Taking the Stage Across Penang (7–18 April)

I think this was the most exciting time of my internship. I spoke on electrical bill interpretation at several schools in Penang, namely Methodist Girls School, SK Jelutong Barat, SJKC Shih Chung, and SMK Jalan Damai. Reports, captions, and even video editing followed each presentation to make sure our outreach activities were thoroughly documented. Along with gathering insightful input from educators, I assisted in organising an energy workshop for teachers in Penang Island held at SJKC Union. I was exposed to the real difficulties of environmental initiatives at meetings on ruralisation and rationalising water bills.

Weeks 7–8: Earth Day, Surveys, and Content Creation (22 April–2 May)

Earth Day celebration at KOMTAR, Penang was a vibrant event. Curious people were drawn to CAP's exhibition booth, which sparked discussions about sustainability. During this time, I developed a school canteen food survey to investigate nutrition, cost, and hygiene. I learnt more about microplastics by attending a webinar on nurdles, or plastic pellets, that took place in between presentations at SMK Sungai Ara and SK Bukit Gelugor. We completed social media videos, wrote multiple reports in one sitting, and refined our survey during the remaining months of April, which served as a time management test. I completed my logbook in early May, polished my article on microplastics for clarity, and submitted two completed short reels to complete my internship and return to writing, editing, and compelling storytelling.

Reflections

This two-month journey included research, content creation, public speaking, translation, and event planning. I learned that environmental campaigning is about making information relevant and actionable for people of all ages and backgrounds. Every task I completed, from making posters to teaching children about power bills, from writing scripts to attending policy discussions, deepened my belief that small, consistent efforts can result in big changes. More than just an internship, my time with CAP served as an introduction to the importance of passion and professionalism in the fight for a more sustainable future.
 

Thank you, Thanam Parthiban for sharing your experience at CAP!