*Photo: AJYELN Indonesia Fellows pose together with the junior and senior high school students who joined the socialization event at Taman Rama Jimbaran High School.
Reported by: Nathania Karina Anggraini, Johanna Gracia Sunarno,Ni Wayan Dina Wiantari and Vanessa Lee
Eco4Shore conducted an educational campaign on marine plastic pollution for the students of Taman Rama Jimbaran Senior and Junior High School on August 9th and 13th, 2024. The campaign, attended by over 188 people, focused on the root causes and effects of marine plastic pollution in Indonesia. It also provided practical steps for students to combat this issue and included activities on proper waste sorting.
1. Key takeaways
- Enhanced Understanding of Marine Plastic Pollution: The presentation covered the definition of marine plastic pollution, common types of plastic waste found in the ocean, and the impact on Indonesia, particularly near Bali. Students learned about the environmental and health consequences, including how plastics affect marine life and potentially enter the human food chain.
- Practical Steps to Combat Pollution: Students were introduced to three actionable steps to reduce marine plastic pollution:
1. Avoiding single-use plastics by using reusable items like tote bags, water bottles, and refusing straws.
2. Properly disposing of waste by using the correct trash bins, which helps in efficient waste sorting and recycling.
3. Supporting environmental organizations through social media, donations, or participation in events like beach cleanups. - Proper Waste Management Practices: The campaign emphasized the importance of waste sorting. White trash cans were provided in each classroom for dry waste such as plastic and paper. Students were taught what types of waste to place in these bins, which will be used for future projects by grades 11 and 12, promoting recycling and reducing landfill waste.
2. Main highlights
The socialization sessions were held on Friday, August 9th for Senior High School (SMA) and Tuesday, August 13th for Junior High School (SMP). The events took place in the Assembly Hall on the 3rd floor of the East Block at Taman Rama Jimbaran School.
The Eco4Shore members presented a lecture about the marine plastic pollution, what the problem looks like in Indonesia, and how to solve the problem in three simple ways. The team also engaged the students in a waste sorting game and Kahoot quiz make the information awareness session more engaging.
Feedback
Following the socialization event on marine plastic pollution, feedback was collected from 18 students ranging from grades 7 to 12. The students shared that they learned about the different types of trash found in the ocean, the dangers of plastic pollution, the distinction between wet and dry waste, and the high levels of trash in Indonesia. They also gained insights into waste management practices.
The students expressed positive feelings about the event, describing it as fun, happy, and inspiring. Many felt motivated to take part in environmental efforts, while some mentioned feeling tired but happy. They also conveyed messages of encouragement to the speakers, using the term “Semangat,” which means “keep going” in Indonesian. Overall, the event was seen as interesting and beneficial.
When asked about their favorite parts of the socialization, students highlighted activities such as sorting waste, participating in quizzes like Kahoot, and the explanations provided during the presentation. Some even mentioned the beach cleanup, indicating a strong engagement with all aspects of the event.
