Learning so that they can care

Reef Check Foundation Indonesia works with young people across Bali to help them learn to love and to protect their marine environment.

With a wide range of participation activities and local community engagement, the Reef Check local team spend a lot of time delivering an education and awareness raising campaign in collaboration with local schools and communities.

Over the last few years Reef Check has been involved in many education programs and activities with young people, including beach clean ups, field visits to marine ecology areas, classroom activities to learn about coral reefs, creation of a reading club and the production of two comic workbooks.

Healthy marine ecosystems are important for the communities’ livelihood, for their food security and for continuing important social and cultural traditions.

Reef Check Foundation Indonesia believes that helping the next generation understand why marine ecosystems are worth looking after is part of the Bali-based organization’s responsibility.

“We have a saying here, “kalau tidak kenal, tidak sayang” (if they don’t know, they don’t care), so it is really important we educate Indonesian children about protecting marine environments so they can learn to care about it too,” Reef Check Indonesia Chairman JensiSartinsaid.

“If we can inspire the kids, then they will become passionate advocates and will inspire others too.”

For more information or to invite Reef Check to your school or upcoming event:

Email: rcindonesia@reefcheck.org

In the classroom

Reef Check often visits schools and works with the students to help raise awareness and teach them about

Educational topics covered in the classroom include waste management, especially composting and recycling. These sessions are designed to teach children about what recycling is, how to compost organic waste and how to reduce pollution from garbage in marine areas. Recognizing that children learn by doing, sessions usually include hands-on paper recycling activities and practicing composting.

Friends helping friends

Following the Yogyakartaand Padang earthquakes in 2009 and 2006, Reef Check lead a successful initiative to raise funds through withchildren’s art competition and charity auction to support communities impacted by the disaster.

Partnering with other sponsor organizations, Reef Check held an exhibition of the works of art created and donated by children from coastal villages in Bali and auctioned it for fundraising. The funds raised were substantial and were used to donate stationary, school bags and uniforms, books and sporting equipment for schools in the affected areas.

Workbooks

Featuring the best children’s artwork, Reef Check has produced two workbooks for school children, which it donates to local schools. The workbooks also feature cartoons designed to teach children about marine conservation issues and blank space for the children to write their own stories.

Public Events

Reef Check is frequently involved in public events, where it helps to increase awareness of marine conservation issues in the community, particularly with children.

Particularly popular are environmental interpretation activities and games where children can learn while having fun.

Field trips and clean ups

Reef Check works with schools to help facilitate regular field trips and beach cleanup activities. These activities are important because they empower children by showing them how easy it is to take action and help protect reefs.