by Yovie Suryani – CIMSA UNRI
“ The best thing ever happened is what you never expected to be”. That is MASKER for us.
On August 12th – 15th 2018, CIMSA held Haze Project with UNESCO along with IPB and EcoFun in Siak, Riau. This first collaboration of CIMSA and UNESCO was focused on raising environmental awareness and air pollution impacts for human and environment. Knowledge about real-time air quality monitoring system was delivered for school to provide teachers and students a better comprehension of air quality index, air pollution and its impact on health and environment.
On the first day of Haze Project, we arrived at Siak to survey the location. Then we got briefings from Siak Regency UNESCO Project Team Leader, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Bambang Hero Saharjo, M.Agr . During this project we live with the local people. We were amazed because we met with villagers who are concerned with air pollution and the Haze Project itself.
The Second day, we began the training at SD 12 Sungai Rawa. Trainers from SCORP CIMSA called Training New Human Right Trainer (TNHRT) gave some trainings, simulation and practice to student of SD 12 Sungai Rawa and MTs Nurul Ikhsan. Each TNHRT gave some trainings on three group . Students in 1st-2nd grade was in group X , 3rd-4th grade was in group Y, and 5th-6th grade was in group Z. Like others training sessions by CIMSA, the training began with the pre-test. Then the session proceed to trainings, ice breaking, and mask usage practice. To attract the students more with this activities, we also made a competition about their knowledge of Haze Project and forest fire. All of the students were very excited with the materials provided by the trainers. After the sessions, we gave the students gift packages that consist of drawing book, eraser, pencils and coloring kit.
On the Third day, we held training at MTs Nurul Ikhsan. The student’s ages in MTs Nurul Ikhsan are different from the ones in SD 12, so we made different approaches with the training sessions. Students of MTs Nurul Ikhsan are more active to ask the trainers about Haze Project. We also made interactive question-and-answer session to elaborate more about the materials. Like other CIMSA training sessions, we also made pre-test and post-test session. At last, TNHRT Team give a practice about What Happens to Our Lungs when We Inhale. We got a lot of attention and excitement and about the session.
We tried and even stammering to speak with their local language language, but they still give their attention to the event. At the end of the events, the students even wrote wonderful farewell letters for us like “Thankyou! here we learned more than we knew”, “Thank you for your kindness, hope you come back!!”, or “Success for everything”. That was simple gift, but that were a warming gifts to us.
It was such a wonderful collaboration with UNESCO, the children, villagers, TNHRT, and others. We all learn from give to give. We dare to be remarkable.
