EEP programme at SMK Ringlet-14th September 2017
On the 14th of September 2017, REACH conducted an Environmental Education Programme EEP in Ringlet Secondary School for 230 Form 1 and Form 2 students.As with all EEP programmes, it started of with talks on environmental related topics.
Our volunteer, Roy Margaret, a power engineer by profession, spoke on global warming and the use of plastics. We are fortunate that most of our volunteers are good speakers and facilitators and Roy made a difficult topic interesting and easy to understand to the thirteen and fourteen year olds.
EEP -English based Environmental Education Programme Summary
This programme is the brainchild of Datin Aseema and Puan Mazlira, our dedicated committee members, who in 2015 suggested that we had to bring our environmental programmes to our local schools on a more regular basis so that it can reach a wider audience. The usage of English as our medium of instruction was also suggested as it would help to improve our local students English proficiency.
So with the assistance of the Education department of Cameron Highlands PPD, in July 2015 our EEP programme got off the ground at the Ringlet Tamil Primary School SJKT Ringlet.
Each school programme would start off with a video/talk on envrironmental related topics such as recycling, river pollution and other environmental problems here. The presenter may be an invited speaker, our local volunteers, our committee members or school teachers. This would be followed by a discussion and Q and A session.
Then the students would be divided into different groups for the ‘workshop.’ Tasks would vary depending on their age group which ranged from 7 to 17 years . For the 7 to 9 year olds they would be given worksheets for coloring and the like. For the 10 year olds and above, they would be asked to make slogans n collages based on nature and later present their work. Facilitators are mainly REACH volunteers and teachers. Each programme would take about 2 to 2and half hours.
Sometimes we would hold other environmental activities such as art competition from recycled materials in place of the regular programme.
Reforestation picks up pace-2nd July 2017 , 9th July 2017 and 16th July 2017
The reforestation activities on the above dates were similar to the earlier ones in June 2017. Except for the 9th of July 2017,more trees were planted this time around.
2nd July 2017-200 trees consisitng of a mixture of Geruk, Merpauh, Rhododendron, Ratsamala trees were planted. In contrast to the earlier visit, the weather was sunny and bright as we set off. On this trip Dr Liau , Geogina and Siva joined too.
Reforestation at Batu Gangan continues -18th June 2017
Following our initial visit on the 12th June 2017, our reforestation work at Batu Gangan forest reserves, on the upper reaches of the Sungai Terla water catchment site, continued on the 18th June 2017. As with the first visit, we will leave Tanah Rata around 8.30 in the morning and upon arrival in the Kuala Terla site ,we would divide ourselves into a few groups with one group assisitng in the contruction of the toilets, another with the clean-up of the site and undergrowth and the last group with the tree planting plus documentation.
For this visit 50 trees consisting mainly of Geruk species were planted
Our volunteers included our three French students Tom, Aurelien ,Pablo and local residents Roy, Uthaya, Rose,Mr Khairil, Nitiya, Gopindran.
Upcoming Activities for September and October 2017
As with the earlier years, with the completion of the UPSR (primary 6 school examinations), local schools are signing up for our environmental programmes. The following are the upcoming activties:
Date : 25th September 2017 School: SMK Kg Raja
Activity : Community Stream Investigation CSI No of Pax: 32
Date: 26th September 2017 ; SK Convent ; CSI : 39 pax
Date: 28th September 2017; SK Ringlet ; CSI; 20 pax
Date: 3rd October 2017 ; SK Convent ; Reforestation in Batu Gangan
Date: 10th October 2017 ; SJKC Bertam Valley ; Reforestation in Batu Gangan
Date: 11th October 2017; SJKC Bertam Valley ; CSI
We love to have volunteers for these programmes. Please contact us if you can lend a helping hand on those days
Signing the Letter of Intent with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan
Following previous year’s discussion with Universiti Malaysia Kelantan UMK, a letter of intent was signed with them on the 31st of March 2017 at the biodiversity site in Gunung Brinchang.
UMK was represented by (above picture from left to right) Dr Kamarul Ariffin bin Kambali, Dr Nazahatul Anis Amaludin, Dr Radhiah Zakaria, Cik Nivaarani Arumugam, Assoc. Prof Dr Aweng Eh Rak, Dr Jayaraj Vijaya Kumaran,Dr Suganthi Appalasamy, Dr Norrimi Rosaida Awang, En Roodhran Amirtham, Madam Aaina Syazwani bin Mohamad Amir Hamzah.
while REACH was represented by Encik Ramakrishnan Ramasamy, Puan Hazlinda, Mr Wong Seng Yee , Encik Uthaya Kumar and Encik Khairil.
In the Letter of Intent, it is stated that both parties shall cooperate in the field of research and conservation as well as field data sharing related to but not limited to research and development and other forms of academic/social collaboration and sharing of resources, facilities, knowledge and skills at the respective institutions for the purpose of research and conservation.