Exchange program for our environmental education teams

For Mira, Sarah, Musmulyadi, Iswandi, Riska and Siska, it was their first trip outside Indonesia and they were very excited about everything we put together for them. Our guests learned a lot about our programmes, courses and working methods. In daily exchanges, our employees from the Birds of Prey Station, the Nature Centre and the office also learned how environmental education is carried out on Sumatra. In the past, there were few points of contact between the various programmes and their environmental education teams, even though they all work with similar goals and visions. With the environmental educator exchange programme, we are now initiating a transnational learning process in which the teams can learn with and from each other. The intercultural exchange should be both personally enriching for everyone and provide mutual inspiration for the range of services offered by each environmental education centre.

The Indonesian delegation

Fransiska is Head of Education at our sister foundation YEL and in this role is also responsible for ensuring that the environmental education programme is known at schools, universities and among the general public. She is an enthusiastic learner herself and loves to learn, try out and pass on new things.

Mira is the programme coordinator for environmental education at the environmental education centre PPLH Bohorok/Sumatra. She started working there ten years ago as a trainee. Today, she guides school classes and tourist groups through the environmental education centre every day and leads them in various activities. She is also studying to become an English teacher at Binjai University in Medan.

Musmulyadi is the delegate of the Puntondo/Sulawesi Environmental Education Centre, where he is responsible for coordinating the education programme on the topics of mangroves, coral protection and waste management and supports his team in the activities with the various guest groups.

Iswandi coordinates the environmental education programme at PPLH Seloliman/Java. Entire schools come to the environmental education centre to learn about environmental protection in practice. In addition, the PPLH Seloliman also offers guided tours for private companies looking for an excursion with environmental education activities. He himself is often out and about in the training garden with the various groups of guests.

Sarah is the education coordinator at Orangutan Haven/Sumatra. The young biologist designs environmental education and awareness-raising modules for the various visitor groups at Orangutan Haven and accompanies school classes on their experience in the nature park.

Riska is also part of the education team at Orangutan Haven and develops modules for the different school levels. As a former teacher at a private school, she has a lot of experience in nature-based forms of teaching, which she can bring to the tours. She also promotes the Orangutan Haven’s school offerings at schools.

What do we want to achieve with the exchange?

In the past, the various programmes and environmental education teams have had little contact, even though we have similar goals and visions. With the exchange programme for environmental educators, we are now able to learn from each other. The intercultural exchange is intended to be both a personal enrichment for everyone, as well as to provide mutual inspiration for the range of programmes offered by each environmental education centre. The Indonesian delegation made the first visit, and in July, two environmental educators from Switzerland will tour the four centres (PPLH) in Indonesia.
Of course, a few tourist destinations should not be missing from the exchange as you can see in the following pictures.

A few insights into the travel program

Janos, Project Manager Environmental Education PanEco:
«The Indonesian delegation was particularly amazed at how clean Switzerland is and how aware many people are of how to deal with waste. Our Indonesian guests were very impressed by the way the schools teach in a calm, benevolent manner and the independence with which the students were able to tackle tasks.»