Maria Farrugia works at Green School in Bali, which is pioneering a new model of learning that connects sustainability lessons from nature with experiential education. Melanie Vella listens to nature.

Another continent, another ocean. Understandably, Green School and Green Camp in Bali, Indonesia, seemed like a distant dream for Maria Farrugia, 26. But that didn’t stop her from applying for an internship back in June 2013. Much to her joy, she was accepted and left Malta eager to immerse herself in a unique learning environment.

Farrugia dedicated all her energy to this experience and she was rewarded with a marketing position at Green Camp. She is currently monitoring the Greenest School On Earth, an award presented by the US Green Building Council, reaching out to hundreds of children worldwide from her bamboo office.

Green School is a structure built using sustainable materials, namely alang-alang, which is local bamboo. Founded by environmentalists and designers John and Cynthia Hardy, Green School is located on a sustainable campus with the Ayung River flowing through it.

The school is built on an organic permaculture system within a lush jungle, with native Balinese plants and trees growing alongside organic gardens reaching all the way up to the classroom doors. The space is designed in perfect harmony with the natural ecology of the land. The experimental and innovative bamboo structures demonstrate the architectural possibilities of this sustainably grown, abundant natural resource.

The school’s 75 buildings, which include classrooms, assembly hall, gym, cafes and composting toilets, are powered by alternative energy sources like solar panels, bio-diesel and a hydro-powered vortex generator.

“Most schools are concrete squares designed by the same people who build prisons and hospitals. To me, they don’t inspire learning,” says Farrugia. “The learning environment at Green School and Green Camp inspires students to be more curious, engaged and passionate about nature.”

Green School and Green Camp have a universal curriculum which combines the academic rigour of schools of higher education with hands-on experiential learning. The core subjects of English, mathematics and science are given due importance, alongside a creative arts curriculum. The custom-designed green studies curriculum covers nature studies, ecological studies, sustainable development and environment throughout the students’ academic years.

The students also help in maintaining a thriving organic garden. Through this experience, students learn how to grow vegetables and raise chickens, and about permaculture and waste management.

“A year-long school project undertaken by the students at Green School was to plant, harvest and cook organic rice in a rice paddy planted outside their classroom. Every student may not grow up to be a gardener or permaculturist, but each will learn the hard work it takes to produce one bowl of rice. Every child becomes a good steward of the environment and can apply their personal skills and knowledge to whichever future path they take,” explains Farrugia.

Green School’s student-centred curriculum not only addresses the child’s intellectual capacity, but also their social and emotional elements. This serves as a key that will open the door to any future they desire, rather than the limited opportunities created by conventional education. Students from over 25 countries graduate from Green School, prepared to join international leading universities, if this is the path they choose. Children with different learning capabilities such as dyslexia have shown vast improvement to conventional academic progress when placed in this education environment.

“The most valuable asset Green School has to offer is the learning environment. Students don’t just learn about nature, but they learn in nature. Therefore, learning comes more naturally,” explains Farrugia.

One of the most notable green pro-ject was undertaken by two middle school students. They set out to get 100,000 signatures to ban plastic bags in Bali. They currently have 50,000 signatures. The students also give presentations to local and international schools about the importance of waste management and help other kids understand why planstik tidak fantastic, Indonesian for plastic is not fantastic. When schools come to Green Camp, they learn how to give the same presentation and take it back to their schools.

“It’s very inspiring to witness how children respond when we empower them to make a difference,” Farrugia says.

Farrugia’s marketing efforts focus on Green Camp, a project that not only shares a campus with Green School, but also its vision to prepare students to be critical and creative thinkers who are confident to develop the world’s sustainability.

“Green Camp offers youths and the young at heart the opportunity to become green leaders, even if they don’t live in Bali,” she says.

Green Camp focuses on nature exploration away from the classroom, beyond reading and trivia knowledge. Campers spend time observing nature, not merely appreciating the physical attributes of a plant, but squatting in the mud, pencil and clipboard in hand and sketching the leaf and flower patterns, noticing shapes, smells, growth habits.

“This helps our campers relate their learning to life, thereby getting a glimpse of the order, harmony and purpose of life.”

The green educators course is furthering the objective of taking Green School values beyond the shores of Bali, by sharing the school’s innovative approach to holistic, student-centred, nature-based education with teachers and educators from around the world.

“Participants discover the strong values embedded within Green School’s ethos where daily engagement with students evokes positive attitudes and routines for success beyond grades and examinations,” Farrugia explains. The educators leave feeling equipped to share a piece of Green School in their own classroom.

“Every day I come to work and there is something inspiring happening on campus,” Farrugia says. “For graduation, Green School students present a TED style talk incorporating everything they’ve learnt during their time here. They cover topics on creativity, gratitude, activism, social and personal growth, art, culture destruction and what makes a change-maker. It makes me emotional knowing I am part of this green community of leaders.”

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