As the global human population continues to grow, the natural world is under increasing pressure. Efforts are needed now to protect and preserve our planet’s ecosystems for future generations. And this begins with education. 

Through a series of school visits in June, Trees4Trees engaged with kids in Java, building their understanding of environmental issues and getting them excited about conservation. The activities were timed to coincide with Trees4Trees’ 15th anniversary, on June 11.  

“Comprehensive environmental education plays a vital role in preparing kids to address the challenges posed by climate change in the future,” explains Novita, Trees4Trees Planning Assistant. “Schools serve as excellent starting points for such education,” she added. 

Making Learning Fun 

During a visit to Bukit Aksara Elementary School in Semarang, the Trees4Trees team used an animated video on global warming and tree planting to capture the children’s attention.  

“I loved the video,” said Rino, a fourth-grade student at the school. “I learned a lot about global warming and what I can do to prevent it.”  

“I’ve seen other animated movies at school too, where the Earth had no trees left, and people had to buy oxygen to breathe. I don’t want that future, so I am excited with this session,” added Rino.  

In West Java, Trees4Trees visited Cieuri 1 Elementary School Ibun, Hidayatussa’adah Al Husni School Cipongkor, and Firdaus School Pengalengan in Bandung. In each location, activities focused on waste management, the importance of tree planting, and basic knowledge of conservation. 

Learning by Doing: Hands-on Environmental Action  

To provide students with hands-on experience, educational sessions included practical activities. At Bukit Aksara, students planted Ketapang trees in their schoolyard, and learned how to care for them properly. 

Students at Hidayatussa’adah Al Husni  School also rolled up their sleeves and got planting. “During the session, we taught students to plant trees around the school,” remembers Irfan, the Unit Manager of the Ciminyak 2 site. “Together with them, we also planted 80 trees to green the school’s surroundings.”  

At Cieuri 1 Elementary School, students went on a litter-picking walk to better understand the impact of their actions. The activity helped them develop more responsible habits. 

Through all these efforts, Trees4Trees aims to empower children to become stewards of the Earth and help create a sustainable future for all. 

Want to get involved? Trees4Trees is available to visit your school to share conservation skills and knowledge. For more information, please get in touch. 

The Importance of Environmental Education  

According to the State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) 2022, our planet has lost approximately 10% (420 million hectares) of forest cover in the last 30 years.  

As highlighted by UNICEF, children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of environmental problems, which impact their health, education, and overall well-being.  

Children are the future stewards of our planet. To ensure the long-term survival of the natural world, we must equip the next generation with the environmental knowledge they need to care for our planet. 

Writer: V. Arnila Wulandani. Editor: Christopher Alexander