From job applications to graduation trips, the lives of many fresh graduates are often abuzz with activities. The same can be said for YALE-NUS College alumnus Ms Umaidurai Dharshini, 25. 

Ms Dharshini, who is a scholar from the Singapore National Co-operative Federation (SNCF), has recently joined co-operators from the Singapore Mercantile Co-operative Society Limited on a four-day, three-night, ‘Environment Sustainability’- themed study trip in Cebu, the Philippines.

Following the Federation’s push for sustainability to be further incorporated within co-operatives, the credit co-operative invited the Gen Z scholar over to conduct a workshop on sustainability with 29 staff members, all of whom are from the aviation industry.   

The sustainability advocate is well-acquainted with the Singapore Co-operative Movement and topics pertaining to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). In 2022, she joined SNCF as an intern, where she contributed to developing the Federation’s and affiliates' ESG integration through ideating and penning content to educate co-operatives on sustainability.

Earlier in 2024, Dharshini interned at NTUC FairPrice Co-operative under FairPrice Group, working under the CEO’s Office with the Sustainability Team to optimise efforts in food and plastic waste reduction and more.

The three-hour workshop dove deep into the basics of sustainability and how everyone has a part to play in combating global warming. These include the actionable strategies to reduce carbon footprint, which run the gamut from making dietary changes (eating low on the food chain or trying composting) to lifestyle adjustments (thrifting and not shopping from fast fashion outlets).

Attendees were introduced to the Ecological Footprint Calculator which calculates in surface area (global hectares or number of planets) how much of the environment is needed to sustain a particular lifestyle.

“The credit co-operators were highly receptive about topics related to sustainability,” Ms Dharshini adds. “They were very curious and asked many questions on how they can better incorporate sustainability practices that were relevant to themselves and their loved ones.”

“(Dharshini) covered what co-operative societies can do to mitigate climate changes through doing simple initiatives or incorporating green practices, like installing LED lights, recycling papers and going paperless by digitising,” says Mr S. Rathakrishnan, Singapore Mercantile Co-operative Society’s Honorary Secretary. 

“(Dharshini) was precise and comprehensively prepared for the topic especially she customised it for the aviation industry even though she said it was her first time doing so,” he praises.

As part of the study trip, the delegates also visited an orphanage. There, they treated around 30 children, aged four to 16 years old, with meals from Jollibee and donated clothes, toys, chocolates and stationery and many other things.

Ms Dharshini is presently working at SNCF, and the union and co-operative arms behind the Amalgamated Union of Public Employees (AUPE).

Words by Sng Ler Jun

Images by Dharshini Umaidurai