BOS Nyaru Menteng Earth Day Activities
Having Fun Painting Garbage Cans
The climax of the Earth Day celebrations in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan ended with a garbage can painting competition with participants being made up of students and society in general. There were more than 30 children and teenagers in Palangka Raya’s Transmigration Hall during Earth Day yesterday, busy painting trash bins which were made from old drum containers. This activity which began at 9am that morning represented one of a combination of activities in the event of celebrating Earth Day for the 22nd April in Palangka Raya.
This garbage can painting competition was held on behalf of the cooperation between a number of NGO’s (non-government organisations) related to the environment such as the BOS Foundation, WWF Indonesia, the Indonesian Cakrawala Foundation (YCI), Wetlands International, The Borneo People’s Association (POB), oB Friends (The Caring Generation for Kalimantan’s Forests and Orangutans), Care International, Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), CKPP (Central Kalimantan Peatland Project), and the Regional Environmental Conservation Research Agency (BPPLHD) of the Province] of Central Kalimantan. “This painting competition which uses the media of garbage bins aims to invite residents of Palangka Raya to want to throw rubbish away in the right place,” announced Pandu B. Wahono, the Manager of the BOS Foundation’s Mawas Conservation Program. Later on, these rubbish bins will be set up on several roadsides around the city of Palangka Raya. The distribution of the rubbish bins will be coordinated by the Province of Central Kalimantan’s BPPLHD.
The enthusiasm in joining this competition could be seen from the faces of the participants who were that devoted to decorating the old containers in order to create beautiful garbage bins through the etches of their own hands. Just like Mutiara Annisa, a year 5 schoolgirl from Menteng 6 Public School in Palangka Raya, whose face was that serious the moment her cute hands smoothly painted the biological diversity of the forest. Although her body and clothes got paint on them, Nisa (such is how she is closely known), was enthusiastic when she was asked what picture she was trying to paint. “I want to make a picture of wild animals like orangutans, birds and snakes which live peacefully in the forest,” she explained.
This is different to Feromia Oksa, a year 6 schoolgirl from Menteng 2 Public
School in Palangka Raya, who did not hope to win in this painting competition. “I just want to let people know about my love for the environment through the painting of this garbage bin,” answered Mia, who hoped people would want to place rubbish in the right place if the spot for throwing rubbish looked pretty. Her care for the environment and for nature began since Mia was small. She is already used to doing little things such as not just throwing rubbish anywhere, and also loving trees has become an effort to show love to the environment. “Sometimes I also get fed up with my friends at school who often just throw rubbish anywhere even though they’ve been told not to,” added Mia, who often picks up rubbish which has been thrown on the ground and then throws it away in the bin.
Painting competitions using old drum containers as medias are indeed a new thing in Palangka Raya. The theme of the paintings are also focused on the environment and the natural condition of Central Kalimantan because this competition is in fact held in the event of the celebration of Earth Day which is usually celebrated on the 22nd April. However, painting on the media of old drum containers has not become an obstacle for participants although at the beginning it was a little difficult. “This is my first time painting on a drum. At first it was indeed difficult because the drum is not flat,” explained Diva Nurdiana, a competition participant from MTsn Model Palangka Raya.
The grading of this competition which has been divided into two categories,
students and the general public, is led by the P. Lampang. S.Sn jury from
Musium Balanga Palangka Raya. The Winner for the Student’s Category was
Mutiara Annisa from Menteng 6 Public School Palangka Raya, Runner-Up was obtained by Diba Nurdiana from MTsn Model Palangka Raya, and Third place was achieved by Krisaverona. J from Don Bosco Catholic Middle School, Palangka Raya. Whereas for the General Category, Krissaesha Novera Sinta won first place, Octavia Puspita won second, and Husnul Khatimah got third place. The competition winners received certificates of appreciation from the competition’s committee and an amount of cash from the sponsors. [Nina | BOS]
Pictures & words © BOS Foundation | 042007 [translated by Amelia Mitchell]
