Instill “change” among students

Andy  Yeoh and the Asian Youth Ambassador (AYA) Network have launched a recess revo project entitled “Revo Garden” in 134 secondary schools nationwide.

“We believe school is where minds are shaped and characters are built. Through this volunteer movement, the students decided to use their recess time to give their school a brand new garden for free,”

“A deserted place of each school is chosen, and students would plow, plant and nurture the garden themselves,” the national facilitator of AYA said.

Kicking off the movement are the four schools in Klang Valley- SMK USJ 13, SMK Subang Utama, SMK Seksyen 4 Bandar Kinara and SMK La Salle Klang. Some 20-40 students from each school have been working on the project in the last three weeks.

In conjunction with World Environment Day last weekend, they planted the saplings into the plowed soil to mark the completion stage of the once weed-grown space now turned into a vibrant garden.

Subang assemblyperson Hananh Yeoh in a ceremony presented the RM3000 cheque each to sponsor the building of such gardens in SMK USJ 13 and SMK Subang Utama.  She said the project instilled a sense of ownership.

“The students are taught to be part of building something. When you build something, you feel a sense of ownership.”

Yeoh said the project itself is a revolution of “love”.

“The students  show they still have faith in their school. The transformation starts internally, from their hearts, their thoughts to shape their behaviour externally.

“Besides, they will nurture the garden by continually water and fertilising it. This signify their action to ‘sow love’ to make their school a better place.

“Revo Garden is also a physical thing to pass on to the next generation. Therefore it symbolises a spirit of continuity, which we call a ‘long haul’. It is important to let them know that it is not only about how we start, but also how we finish,”

“The garden also speaks of movement- a “revolution of love.”

Prior to getting sponsors, Komunitikini was informed that the students raised funds through selling tee shirts and muffins. They will continue to work on the garden until the end of holidays.

In the ceremony, Hannah also led the students to distribute 300 recycled bags to the shoppers in Subang Parade.

Other schools in Penang, Perak, Melaka, KL, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak are also signing up in the project.