DR. BIBIANAH BINTI THOMAS Universiti Teknologi MARA
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global roadmap for the world we aim to achieve by 2030. Although widely discussed at the tertiary level and in policymaking circles, they remain largely out of reach for a crucial audience: children. Yet the real drivers of 2030 and beyond are not only today’s leaders, but also the children growing up today. LestariTale: Story-Based Sustainability Learning Kit was created to bridge this gap. Sustainability education should start early, when curiosity is strongest and values are still forming. Early exposure helps children internalize sustainable habits and empowers them to apply SDG principles throughout their lives. By turning complex global frameworks into engaging stories, LestariTale enables children to understand and practice sustainability in their everyday lives.
Aligned with SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, LestariTale featuring Princess Lestari, who demonstrates simple yet impactful habits such as reusing materials, reducing waste, and recycling. Through storytelling, children connect global goals to everyday actions, making sustainability personal, achievable, and meaningful. The kit includes a digital interactive platform with immersive visuals, audio narration, and guided activities to boost engagement and retention. Rather than passive learning, children actively take part in the sustainability journey. Feedback from primary school children and parents showed high engagement, clear understanding, and greater awareness of responsible consumption behaviors. Beyond its educational value, LestariTale is designed for scalability and commercialization. As a hybrid digital and printable product, it fits schools, early learning centres, NGOs, and sustainability programs. The platform can expand into a multi-title SDG series, allowing curriculum integration, institutional licensing, and recurring revenue. Intellectual property registration has been initiated to secure its market position. LestariTale transforms sustainability from policy language into childhood imagination, fostering not just awareness, but a generation ready to lead lasting change.