Indonesia
Earth Day with Animals
Jiva Saccid Anandyta had a picture with a baby tiger when visiting Taman Safari II in Prigen, East Java. That’s why this fifth grade student of Bright Kiddie School didn’t react too much when came across snakes at his school in Wiyung Pratama, Surabaya, Tuesday April 22nd 2014.
The snakes were the most anticipated guest stars on the Earth Day ceremony. They came with others fellow reptilians such as iguanas and turtles. The pack surely provoked big applause and screams, merry and scurry at the same time, from either students or some of the teachers. “We have one boa, seven pythons, one turtle, three iguanas and three geco,” drh Hadistya Diah from Albolaris Reptilian Study Group, listed them.
The Earth Day ceremony opened with performance of Mr D, a guitarist who gives name to his one finger guitar technique with his Rick Hanes. Doddy Hernanto, his real name, was an ambassador of Indonesian Wild Life Conservation Forum (Foksi). According to the principal, Endang Juliatin, there are many ways we can do to teach children how important it is to preserve the home for all of us, the Earth. Approach chosen by Bright Kiddie School was through the animals, which has been proven many time to be exciting for kids. “We use reptiles as the bait, but the message to preserve the environment is still conveyed,” said Endang
Hundreds of students from kindergarden to elementary school gathered in the hall, attending the activity with theme “Protect Mother Earth and Wild Life Since Early”. Having being satisfied with Mr D’s performance, they were entertained with dance performance by some of their own. At the end of the show, they get to introduce with the reptiles, which they had been eagerly waiting since morning. “Ough, i can’t touch the snakes. At home we keep fishes,” said Putu Diah Ayu Budi Cahyani, a second grade student, trembling.
The event was also enlivened by the exhibition of recycling of dry garbage products. Take Kalinda Tara Opaline for example. This student of second grade came up with plastic bag made of softener plastic wasted. Endang was positive that the students will keep consistent in keeping the environment clean, and not only on the Earth Day. “At school, we already have the separation of wet and dry garbage. We start from little things first, but we are confident that kids will keep this habit with the,” Endang went on.
HAFIDA INDRAWATI
PHOTOS: HAFIDA INDRAWATI
