Indonesia: Ciliwung - Educating on Environmental Issues

GCC Indonesia: Educating Environmental Issues through Movies, Games, and Story Telling

Twelve GCC Indonesia leaders collaborated to create a simple environmental project called CingCaw: Ciliwung Care and Aware. It was centered around the idea of educating kids to preserve their local environment. Ciliwung is one of the most polluted rivers in Jakarta. GCC leaders in Ciliwung were running a project with the aim to raise awareness about pollution and local environmental protection. The project came to fruition on December 31^st 2011, in conjunction with a core project called Jakarta Glue, and a main event produced by the Provincial Government of Jakarta.

60 local children came to the day long workshop to learn about how the river was polluted and what they can do as individuals to prevent any further harm. The innovative lesson included games, movies, and storytelling. The creative approach proved to be helpful in teaching the children, as the majority of them stayed until closing. One of the more specific lessons taught by the GCC staff was a mid-day simulation on the importance of hand washing and how to separate garbage and recycling.  

Along with the day-long environmental education program, The GCC leaders joined in with the local community to clean up the river and plant trees in the surrounding area. After everything was over, GCC Indonesia offered a partnership with the youth community in Ciliwung in order to collaborate on future projects.