"Green" Community Connections

As the new year steadily builds its identity and we move into the second semester at ISKL it's a good time to check in with those things that often get unnoticed. The "behind the scenes" stuff, so to speak.  Way back in August, when we were still high on the Green Flag award and the adrenaline was pumping, we promised to move forward in our goal to reach out to the community. Things have moved gently since then and this is our chance to let you in on some of the plans. 

Four key things that we're working on regarding community connections:

1. We are working with YAWA (the Malaysian association for environmental education) and WWF Malaysia to identify a plot of land that we can utilize as a Nature Education Center. The idea here is to work with local organizations and/or schools collaboratively to participate in conservation, outdoor education and rehabilitation projects. There is a possibility of assisting with the establishment of a Sun Bear conservation program in one of these locations. Things here are still "in flux" and we have a very long way to go, but it's a dream inching ever closer to reality. More info can be found at this Green Council link: https://sites.google.com/a/iskl.edu.my/greencouncil/ongoing-projects/nature-education-center-project
2. We have requested from the local city council (MPAJ) to help us coordinate a tree planting event sometime in March. Involving our varsity teams in third IASAS season this will function as a team bonding experience as well as a carbon offsetting service project for our participants. 
3. Our 3rd grade, 7th grade and HS environmental education classes are looking into collaborative programs with the Global Environment Centre to essentially "adopt a stream" and provide water quality data to be added to a Klang Valley database used by the Malaysian Government to instruct decisions regarding needs along the Klang River. 
4. Our Green Council is working with WWF Malaysia regarding organizing a half-day Eco-Schools conference at ISKL. The hope is that both teachers and students participate concurrently in the mini-conference. 

None of these initiatives has been yet been finalized. But as I write this I am excited about the possibilities. There is much to be gained from authentic and meaningful collaboration with local partners, NGOs, schools and community government. This is the way ISKL can slowly become a leader in the local community as well as we have done with our extended international community. "Think globally, act locally" they say. We're well on our way.