Making a difference starts in school

OUR environment is under distress. Climate change, global warming, along with plastic, air and water pollution are some of the threats we are facing today. These threats are now escalating at an alarming rate.

In response, Taylor’s International school (TIS) is doing its part to help save the environment by educating the younger generation – its students – about caring for the environment.

TIS believes that as educators, it is their duty to instill a strong sense of responsibility among students to care for themselves, those close to them, their communities and the world at large.

To achieve this, students are asked to play this important role and take action in school for a start.

Teachers emphasise that everyone must take responsibility by caring for our environment, to preserve it and make the world a better place, and that everyone can make a difference, no matter how small.

With this aim in mind, TIS Kuala Lumpur took a bold step and registered with the global Eco-Schools Project – a project whose commitment is to make the school a more eco-conscious place to the wider school community of students, parents and the surrounding neighborhood by implementing various projects to save Mother Earth.

A group of students named Eco-Heroes were chosen and along with volunteers for this project are committed to share ideas and implement actions that will make the school more environmentally friendly.

As schools are now open, students are able to carry out various projects in school such as recycling, observing Earth Hour, making an eco-corner indoor garden in the classroom, making sculptures out of recyclable items and many more.

Students are also taught to save the environment in their lessons such as through science-based activities for World Water Day. They are taught the importance of water and how to preserve it, the importance of turning off the air-conditioner and lights when not in use, using refillable bottles and much more.

They were made aware of the reasons why we need to do certain things to preserve our environment, the reasons why, and the consequences on the environment if they were ignored.

This increases the students' understanding and helps them learn better why things matter, and why we all need to play our part.

Similarly, in TIS Puchong, the school has organised Ocean Week – a project to raise awareness about how pollution is destroying the ocean. Students were asked what they can do to prevent pollution in the ocean and conservation projects that can be carried out.

Besides caring for the environment, TIS Puchong also works towards caring for the community. It is a yearly commitment for the student council members of the school to collect dry food during Ramadan to donate to different homes, as a part of the Titian Kasih project of caring for others in need.

TIS will continue its efforts to do their part in saving the environment with the mission that everyone must come together to do their bit to protect our environment.

This coincides with the school’s launch of Care Movement – an initiative for students to inculcate a sense of responsibility and develop the capacity to care and value themselves, others and the world.