The OVP on film
The Orphanage Volunteer Project is a successful GCP activity ran by BIS students. The film explains more….
GCP Project Sharing
Last week saw MYP GCP project teams present the work that they have been doing over the past few months. Some great information was shared, as were some reflections on how to best approach GCP projects. Below are links to some of the presentations.
Meaningful GCP…revisited
It is not new news that it is predicted that Bali will experience a water crisis by 2015, particularly in the southern areas of the island including Badung and Denpasar. Increases in population, inefficient water usage and increased tourists coming to the island (the average 500-room hotel uses as much water daily as could be used to irrigate 33 hectares of rice paddy average, the average Balinese golf course uses 3 million litres of water per day, the avergage tourist uses 3,000 litres per day while the average Balinese person uses only 200 litres). have lead to a water deficit, which is growing yearly. To address this, the the head of development planning for Bali, Tjokorda Ngurah Pemayun, has put forward five areas that need to be acted upon: conservation, utilization, repair of damaged water sources, the involvement of the community in conservation practice and an information system on water for the public. My question to BIS students, which of these areas could lead to a GCP project aimed at reducing the impact of this water shortage? How can a meaningful GCP activity be developed considering this information?
National Schools can be paid to recycle
A breakthrough in Bali’s provincial government in the handling of plastic waste has been announced. The Environment Agency (BLH) recently announced that they will provide financial assistance to public schools that have shown that they are able to independently manage plastic waste. Schools that implement recycling programs, especially for plastic, will be eligible for Rp5 Million funding. Such programs are not only aiming to reduce plastic waste but will also develop student knowledge about waste management. Hopefully this will reduce the 15% plastic waste that forms Bali’s 10,000 cubic meters of daily waste.
Bali Sports Foundation
Do you like sport? If so, this possible GCP activity may interest you. The Bali Sports Foundation is looking for volunteers to get involved in its programs, which include teaching swimming, organising football tournaments and developing other sports.
In particular, this Yayasan is looking for assistance in helping run the Bali Sports Foundation U14 Soccer sixes on May 28. From this event, 12 young players will be selected to represent Bali in Singapore at the SCC soccer sixes in June. See Mr Muir if you are interested.
MYP GCP Graduation requirements
MYP students have been informed that the due date for submitting GCP graduation requirements for this semester is May 26. This date is especially important for Grade 10 students who will need to fulfill requirements in order to achieve their MYP Certificate. Details on what students need to submit can be found in the MYP GCP Handbook, which can be downloaded from this website.
Rinjani For Earth Day
The group trekked for over 25 hours through muddy tropical forest and along steep rocky ridges, striving to push on despite strong gusts of wind and monsoon rain. Once at the summit, the first rays of morning sun appeared over the horizon and the group was treated to a breathtaking view of Sumbawa, Bali, Lombok and Rinjani’s lake below. In awe of the majestic view from their vantage point, the group’s long journey all felt worthwhile.
On Sunday night, the group returned to Bali, exhausted, but with the satisfaction of having conquered Rinjani together, in an experience they will never forget.
Water for life
On April 20th the Water for life group from Bali International School traveled to the village of Ban, located in East Bali at the foothills the sacred Mt. Agung. The trip was a culmination of a number of months of fund raising and involved students contributing to the construction of cubing, the local term for an in-ground concrete water tank. Working with the East Bali Poverty Project, students spent a day moving dirt, mixing cement and lining the walls of the cubang with concrete. In the words of one of the students, “It was hard but rewarding work”.
Water for Life is a project team that runs as a part of the school’s Global Citizenship Programme, which sees students initiate and then lead various service learning activities. The Water For Life group aimed to assist the areas of Bali that receive limited amounts of rainfall. Aside from raising awareness about the plight of people in these impoverished areas, the students also raised funds for the construction of cubangs to collect and store water. The group managed to organize school-based events and activities to raise Rp.5,036,000.
The group also approached some local businesses for sponsorship to assist them in their goal of assisting the people of Ban. Grade & student Bruce Smith said that their efforts would not have been possible if not for the support form the BIS community. “We would like to thank everyone who supported this cause, particularly our sponsors Surfer Girl, Amanusa Resort Bali and CV. Sinar Mutiara Bali for their generous donations.
The Water For Life members now look forward to next year, where they aim to seek new students to join them in their efforts of spreading awareness and supporting those places in Bali that have limited access to water, while further increasing their knowledge of issues with Bali’s water supplies.
GCP Flexi Day
Today was GCP Flexi day, a day that saw all MYP students participate in simulations linked to the issue of inequality. These activities were planned and led by BIS students. Here are the objectives of the activities:
Fishing for the Future (led by Maya & Julia of Gr 11)
Aim – Through a fishing simulation, students model several consecutive seasons of a fishery and explore how technology, population growth, and sustainable practices impact fish catch and fisheries management.
Transport (led by Ryan & Marcus of Gr 10) – Big Field
Aim – To understand how the inequities of transport infrastructure can affect economic development
Global Education Jeopardy (Mitchell, Matthew, Lachlan, Sam of Gr 8 & 9)
Aim – To gain knowledge of global issues, as well as understand how governments can influence development.
An unequal Tower (led by Natalia & Shanandra of Gr 11)
Aim – Through an engineering simulation, students will gain an insight into how the access to resources can influence developmental success.
It was great to see the students showing leadership, collaborating, taking initiative and having fun while exploring global issues. A big thank you to the students listed above who spent a lot of time in preparing and then leading the activities. I should also thank them for presenting to the high school on the GIN conference that they attended during the recent term break. Thanks guys!
Habitat build
Here is a report on the BIS Habitat For Humanity Project Build held during the recent term break from Grade 11 student Shanandra Suyanto
12 BIS students from grade 10-12 in the Habitat For Humanity group had the opportunity to volunteer and help build simple and decent home on the first weekend of the term 3 breaks, 1st-3rd of April with ibu Linda and Mr Smith as our supervisors and the local coordinator Claretta from “Habitat for Humanity” organization.
We used funds that we have raised for building materials and to build the foundation of a house for Nengah Suandra and Luh Nuriani in Pancasari area near Gitgit village. At the moment Nengah lives in a small room with his two children at his brother’s house. Habitat for Humanity believes that simple, decent shelter is a basic human right and helps break the cycle of poverty.
We learned new skills such as bending wires and mixing cement and we were having a pleasurable weekend and practicing the IB student’s profiles in a real life. Although we had to start working at 8 am to 4 pm but it was fun and we practiced to be more caring and risk-taking and overall we had a splendid weekend. Join our Habitat For Humanity group to be able to experience this!
