Thayanithi Kulenthran is a Visionary Earth Carer, Educator and Community Mobiliser on Earth Consciousness. Born in the mid 1950’s and beginning to work in the late 1970’s, she lived differently from those of her peers - making choices away from the norm. Always listening to her deep instincts.
Background
Over the span of forty-six adult years, Thayanithi lived in differing capacities. She was an upper secondary school teacher, a homemaker, a community volunteer worker and home tuition teacher, a Research Assistant, an Environmental Scientist, Senior Environmental Consultant, Freelance Environmental Consultant, a post graduate student, founder and principal of a small consulting and training business Greenfields Consulting (1999-2006) and finally Founder and Principal of the Social Enterprise DayAnidhi Earth.
A conviction and a natural deep love for the Earth inspired and guided Thayanithi in her late 40’s to spend months upon months over 9 years, in much quiet at Home. To immerse herself in cultivating and studying the Lotus plant that she had been cosmically guided to in 2001. During this period, she also worked to spearhead ideas for the design, development & implementation of Dayanidhi Earth programs and projects. She created a Garden Sanctuary to begin with, around her home, so she could feel the vibrations of the Earth Being, each time she stepped out of her front door and she would be guided by the Spirit and Soul of the Earth. She listened intently, then reflected upon the goings on around her, within her home and in her community. She then identified some relationships & developed those that she felt in time, could be in harmony with the Earth. That could and would perhaps eventually help ground others.
For the past 15 years, Dayanidhi Earth has been primarily self-funded, with minimal income generation. This was to allow Thayanithi to focus on developing her ideas and programs. The income was generated through her consultancy and training input into a few projects for and with the Malaysian Environmental NGO’s. Her husband in addition gave her his unwavering and multidimensional support.
MEDIA
• STARTWO - LIFESTYLE 20 September 2010
“Pure Flourish” Article published by thestar.com.my of Thaya’s work on the Lotus.
• Bernama TV
A Talk Show organised by and aired on Bernama TV on 1st November 2009.
Thaya represented the Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia (EPSM) and DayAnidhi Earth on the NGO perspective Towards Zero Plastic Bags. Talk Show was with a representative of the Plastic Manufacturers Association of Malaysia, who spoke from the perspective of the plastic bag manufacturer.
• New SundayTimes of Malaysia publishes
2003, June 29th, “Thayanithi all fired up over ‘Project Lotus”
2006, March 26, “Lotus goes beyond a spiritual beacon”
• The STAR newspaper publishes articles written by Thayanithi Kulenthran, under section Views -Your Opinion
“Lest we forget the hardworking ‘water men’ ”, published under the pseudonym COMPASSION FOR EARTH (14 September 2020)
“Listening” to Our children” (2017),
“Parks are good venues for reading” (2017)
“But first the right photo of the Tiger” (2016),
“ Baby Dumping a complex problem” (12th July 2012)
CURRENT (ongoing) PROGRAMS (& PROJECTS)
Ongoing projects are aspects of the following DayAnidhi Earth’s programs.
THE EARTH AND I
being an earth carer
the dayanidhi earth garden sanctuary
“COMPASSION FOR THE EARTH BEING PROJECT” - A Project of hope for humanity
THE URBAN EARTH VILLAGE
THE other program
GENDER PARTNERSHIPS
past projects
Training and demonstration on Towards Zero Plastic Bags: The Dayanidhi Earth Model A Community Guide, for the Malaysian Environmental NGO’s (MENGO’s). Funded by DANIDA – Danish International Development Assistance through the MENGO’S, 2007-2009
Training and demonstration on Towards Zero Plastic Bags: The Dayanidhi Earth Model in partnership with two MENGO members, the Consumer Association of Penang and the Sustainable Development Network of Malaysia in Penang and Kuantan respectively. Activities were funded by DANIDA –Danish International Development Assistance through the MENGO’S.
Talk and demonstration to Technip Malaysia staff on Towards Zero Plastic Bags: The Dayanidhi Earth Model; a Community Guide.
A booth exhibit on Towards Zero Plastic Bags: The Dayanidhi Earth Model in partnership with the Department of Solid Waste Management of the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for National Recycling Day 2007.
Trainer for Training Course on Developing Capacity of NGOs for the Practical Implementation of IWRM in Malaysia, with the Malaysian Environmental NGO’s (MENGO’S) and with LESTARI – the Institute for Environment and Development, University Kebangsaan Malaysia for the MyCAP net project.
Other past projects
These include the projects that Thayanithi Kulenthran was a resource person and/or Project Coordinator before the social enterprise Dayanidhi Earth was formed to create the movement of “Compassion for the Earth Being”.
Lead Author on Inspirational Services of Ecosystems, Conditions and Trends Report, Millennium Assessment; 2000-2005.
Resource person/Consultant on River and Stream conservation to the Centre for Environmental Technologies Malaysia (CETEC); 2004-2006. The project was funded by the UNDP GEF SGP grant funds.
The Vietnam Environmental Management Exchange Project, an international tripartite project involving Vietnam, Malaysia and Colorado State/USA; 2001-2002**
Malaysia-Colorado Cleaner Production Policy and Technology Exchange; 12-16 July 1999*
Resource person/Environmental Consultant/Team Member for the Due Diligence Solid Waste Management Project for Malaysia (States of Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan) HICOM Environmental 1996 (a 2 month involvement while on semester break of post graduate study for the Masters of Technology (Environmental Management)
Environmental Impact Assessments of major government and private sector projects that included flood mitigation, coastal protection works, housing, golf resort and industrial development, a 500KV Transmission Line (TNB) and the EIA of the Shell Refinery in Port Dickson; Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd, Consulting Engineers; 1991-1995
* *Greenfields Consulting, a sole proprietor company Thayanithi set up in 1999 was the primary partner to the Colorado Environmental Business Alliance and to the University of Colorado Business Advancement Centre on the afore said project. The project was funded by a US AID-USAEP-CSG- SEI grant; 2001-2002.
* Greenfields Environmental Consultants, was awarded a Bridge grant to facilitate the Malaysia -Colorado Cleaner Production Policy and Technology Exchange in July 1999. The grant was awarded through the University of Colorado Business Advancement Centre.
OTHER POSITIONS HELD AND CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE:
Petaling Jaya City Council, Local Agenda 21 Working Committees (Social and Environmental) during the UN Local Agenda 21 pilot project.
Council member of the Environmental Management and Research Association of Malaysia (ENSEARCH) 2006 to 2009.
Malaysian Cooperating Committee member of the Malaysian Environmental NGO’s (MENGO’s), 2007 & 2008.
Trainer and Member of the Research Committee of LESTARI - Institute for Environment and Development, University Kebangsaan Malaysia for the Training Course on Developing Capacity of NGOs for the Practical Implementation of IWRM in Malaysia, 2008.
Founding Member and member of the executive committee of the Residents Association of Section 12, Petaling Jaya from its formation in 2003 till and including 2008.
Founder, Dayanidhi Earth, 2006-present
Principal of Greenfields Consulting the 1st sole proprietor company she formed, 1999 -2006.
Lead author on the Millennium Assessment (MEA) on the Inspirational Services of Ecosystems and a Reviewer for Ecosystems and Human Well Being, the first output of the MEA; a voluntary and invited position, 2002-2005.
Freelance Environmental Consultant to HICOM Environmental, 1996.
Consultant to The Centre for Environmental Technologies, an Environmental NGO, 1995.
Contributory Writer for the magazine Green Wave, and IMPAK, a publication of the Department of Environment, Malaysia.
Environmental Scientist, Environmental Consultant and Senior Environmental Consultant, Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd, Consulting Engineers, 1991-1995.