Malaysia Tatler – August 2019

150 malaysia tatler. august 2019

TAKING A LEAF

From top: Students

taking part in the

jungle school

programme;

nine-year-old

Tahaan Jakhwal,

whose letter

sparked change;

a demonstration

on the impact of

plastic pollution

R

eceiving a letter from
the principal usually
drives tensions high, but
that wasn’t the case at
Garden International
School (GIS) when Tahaan Jakhwal, a Year
4 student, decided to write a letter to the
principal instead. In the note, Tahaan wrote
about plastic waste and its impact on the
environment; his communication kick-started
a call to action for the whole school. “When
the letter arrived, it ignited something in
everyone,” said GIS principal, Mark Ford.
“The letter sparked change, and we’re grateful
for environmentally conscious students
and parents who have taken initiatives to
implement sustainable practises on campus.”
To launch their #KickthePlastic initiative,
the teachers at GIS surprised students with a
plastic pool protest. Just before a class arrived
for their swimming lesson, two large bags of
plastic bottles were dumped into the pool.

The objective was to spread

awareness about plastic waste

at GIS—which disposes a total

of 60,000 plastic bottles per

year. Students were made to

understand the impact plastic

had on the environment, and

with the help of teachers and

parents, GIS began their mission

to reduce the use of plastic.

Another initiative is the Jungle

School programme. The only school

in Malaysia currently offering the

programme, Jungle School is a hands-on

learning experience in an outdoor jungle

setting. Allowing students to learn and

interact with Mother Nature.

Reinforcing the notion of ‘teaching

them young,’ GIS and Claire Sancelot the

founder of The Hive, partnered to educate

students about sustainable practices through

ways of recycling, reducing waste, and

gardening, that has been applied throughout

the school. Students have also learnt that

sustainability is not limited to plastic waste

and environmentally-friendly practices, but

also dietary habits. In an effort to spread

awareness, the students have recently

launched Meat Free Mondays as a means

to advocate for food consciousness.

Moving forward, GIS hopes that students

will carry this mindset into adulthood. Fully

aware that education is the key to success,

GIS has a variety of activities, lesson plans

and programmes set in place for a conducive,

sustainable learning environment.

A student’s bold action shifted his entire school’s

perception on plastic waste and the environment

Starting Them Young

IMAGES: GARDEN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

LIFE | EDUCATION