Students from 534 schools across Malaysia celebrated the places, cultures and communities they call home through the nationwide KOKO KRAF CLUB collage competition.

A famous landmark. A cultural tradition passed down through generations. The people and places that make a neighbourhood feel like home. Through a child’s eyes, these everyday parts of Malaysia can become something worth celebrating.

This year, 11,208 students from 534 schools across 141 districts turned their perspectives into colourful works of art through KOKO KRAF CLUB, a nationwide collage competition organised by Nestlé Koko Krunch in partnership with the Ministry of Education Malaysia. After progressing through district and state stages, 15 finalist teams gathered at the Grand Finale at NU Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, where they presented their interpretations of what makes Malaysia special.

From Their Districts to the Beauty of Malaysia

Inspired by Visit Malaysia 2026, the competition encouraged students to look more closely at the world around them through three connected themes: ‘Beauty of My District’, ‘Beauty of My State’ and, at the national stage, ‘Beauty of Malaysia’. With each round, students explored the landmarks, cultures, communities, and natural surroundings closest to them before transforming those ideas into collages using colour, texture, and imagination.

Among the 15 finalist teams, Aniqkh Hasiff, Afifa Auliaa and Nisaa Izz from Sekolah Kebangsaan Balai Badang emerged as the national champions. Their vibrant collage brought together iconic Malaysian landmarks, native wildlife, the Rafflesia and traditional elements to showcase the country’s cultural and natural richness. The champions received RM1,500 in cash and certificates, while their school received RM2,000 in recognition of their achievement.

Their work reflected what many of the entries shared: each student had a different idea of what Malaysia meant to them.

“What has been most inspiring is seeing how students interpreted Malaysia in their own unique ways. Every collage tells a different story, whether it is about a local landmark, a cultural tradition or the people who make a community special.” – Philip Joe, Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Cereal Partners Worldwide Malaysia and Singapore

He added that children are naturally curious and creative, and that KOKO KRAF CLUB was created to give them space to express their own perspectives.

“Seeing more than 11,000 students take part this year has been incredibly encouraging. Together with the Ministry of Education Malaysia, we have been able to bring this experience to schools and communities across Malaysia, giving our younger generation an opportunity to share what they can create on a national stage.”

Giving Young Talent Another Way to Shine

Beyond the competition itself, KOKO KRAF CLUB aims to encourage creativity, imagination and self-expression through hands-on art.

YB Wong Kah Woh, Deputy Minister of Education Malaysia, said experiences like this can complement classroom learning by giving students more opportunities to discover their abilities. Education is not only about equipping our students with knowledge but also providing them with opportunities to discover their abilities and develop their potential. He added that seeing students progress from schools and districts to a national-level platform also gives young people the opportunity to take pride in both their work and where they come from.

For some schools, simply reaching the Grand Finale was already a milestone. Nelly Jimmy from Sekolah Kebangsaan Tangkungon in Telupid, Sabah, shared that two teams from the school qualified for the Kuala Lumpur finals after 15 entries were submitted. Teachers, parents and the school worked together to help the students prepare and travel from Telupid to Kuala Lumpur.

Thousands of Different Views of Home

More than an art competition, KOKO KRAF CLUB encouraged young Malaysians to pay closer attention to the places and stories around them. Through the imagination of 11,208 students, Malaysia was not represented by one single picture.

Instead, it appeared through thousands of personal perspectives, from local landmarks and cultural traditions to wildlife, communities and everyday scenes that make the country feel like home. And perhaps that is what made the showcase especially meaningful: every child saw Malaysia a little differently.