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April 28, 2015

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Inspired pupils spearhead positive initiatives

We live in a world where pollution has become a reality that impacts us all. In the face of this reality, many of us have come to the realization that “going green” is not a practical consideration; it’s a moral responsibility.

As a science teacher and advisor to the Environmental Committee at Concordia International School Shanghai, I look for opportunities to educate students on imminent environmental concerns and get them involved in ways that bring about change. I am very proud to say that many of the ideas put forward by the passionate students who make up our committee have been nothing less than inspired. Co-led by high school students Shannon Hwang and Vivian Lu, Concordia’s Environmental Committee has led various initiatives that have gotten the entire student body and the greater community involved.

This year alone the efforts of the committee have been met with a great deal of success and participation. In the fall at our annual Eco Fair, students organized a fashion show that featured eco-friendly clothing from companies like Finch, a socially conscious Shanghai-based clothing label. The proceeds from this event went to the Roots & Shoots and Million Tree Project. For students, knowing that there is a forest of saplings growing in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region because of their efforts is something they will likely never forget.

Throughout the year the committee also ran clothing drives and hosted swap shops to recycle used clothing and promote consignment shopping among the community. All the leftover clothing was donated to local families in need. Our most recent initiative involves composting food wastes from our school cafeterias. Students are taking a portion of this food waste and creating natural fertilizers, which are then used for our garden beds here on campus.

Though we are starting small, this type of sustainable program has the potential to grow beyond our school to other schools possibly and impact local farmers. The more schools and organizations get involved, the greater the impact.

I have been impressed with the enthusiasm and drive that students demonstrate when seeking out new projects, and their efforts continue. This May, the Environmental Committee will have a booth at the Jinqiao Mini Maker Faire to teach people how to “upcycle” their trash into pieces of art, jewelry, and other creative objects they may never have thought possible. The committee is also looking to partner with Green Initiatives, a non-profit that implements environmentally sustainable projects, on their Fiber Project, which repurposes clothing that would otherwise be thrown out into new fabric and products.

As an educator, it is great to see students develop an understanding of the environment and actively seek out ways to protect it. To see them become so passionate about their ideas and efforts though is truly exciting.

Everything we do starts with passionate students. They have good ideas, they are willing to work hard and they have contagious enthusiasm — and that makes all the difference.




 

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