Help Educate 50 Village Children in Bali

Coding and Robotics at Begawan’s Learning Centre

Begawan is aware that education should remain meaningful and relevant to the current digital age. Thus, various digital lessons involving computers are available in the foundation. Scratch coding and robotics are among the lessons that the students are really interested in. Begawan is actively providing such valuable opportunities free of charge for the children in rural Bali. Up until now, there have been two groups of students with each group consisting of six students, one for each of Begawan’s computers. The first group completed the course in July 2022. The second group is expected to complete the course in February 2023.

In November, Begawan began robotics for the first group. This robotics course, developed in cooperation with Coderengers, is a continuation of the Scratch coding lessons. The students learn the basic parts of a robot as well as how to give commands to it through coding. Different from Scratch coding in which the students give commands to animations, robotics requires the students to give commands to real robots.

The students have been highly motivated to join this course. As Juna said, “I feel very happy with the robotics lessons because I can learn how to program a real robot, not only an animation. I have many toys at home that work differently and I am curious about how to make them.”

I Komang Suartama, the facilitator commented, “I think the robotics lesson will be very beneficial for the students because it will not only develop their knowledge and skills in robotics, but also accelerate desirable characters such as problem-solving, creativity, curiosity, resilience, and tenacity.”

Begawan hopes that the provision of the Scratch coding and robotics lessons will enrich the students’ future goals. Living in a rural area should not limit what they can learn and master. The only limit is their minds.

Students Learned a Seed Selection Technique

Seed selection is a crucial part of rice cultivation as choosing good seeds will be very profitable for farmers. Good seeds can grow healthily, have strong roots, produce abundant grain, and be more resistant to environmental damage, allowing farmers to increase their production, and retain good seeds for the next rice cycle.

This activity is part of the Soil and Farming theme at Begawan’s Learning Centre, focussing on environmental science with an emphasis on soil health and non-chemical rice farming. Incorporating the four principles of learning including introspective, emotive, active and cognitive learning, these lessons provide the students with opportunities to develop useful agricultural knowledge through fun and experiential learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

On October 5, 2022, Begawan’s students learned how to select good seeds using the floatation technique. They prepared a bucket of water and slowly added salt to it. Then they stirred the water and placed a duck egg in it. If the egg floats, it means the water is ready to be used to select seeds.The students had to predict whether their egg would sink or float. Some eggs still sunk so the students had to estimate and add more salt until the egg floated. They then removed the egg and poured a handful of paddy seeds into the water. As they stirred the water,  the sunken seeds with a high potential to germinate separated from the empty floating seeds. The students then washed the good seeds to remove the salt residue, soaked the seeds for three days and incubated them in a dark and moist place for one night. Finally, the seeds were ready for sowing in a nursery tray specially made by the students.

Natural Symmetry

1. Theme A Fun Way to Study Natural Symmetry at Mertasari Beach

On November 27, the Eco Warriors had the opportunity to participate in fun activities at the beach from morning until late afternoon. Thirty students, accompanied by three facilitators, went together in a bus provided by Perum PPD (Djakarta Public Transportation Company). 

As soon as the students arrived, they were divided into groups and then given the task to collect seashells of various shapes to be used in the next activity. Along the way students discovered a variety of aquatic life, including little crabs, hermit crabs, living clams, coral, and small fish. Each group had to identify the symmetrical patterns they saw. Symmetrical shapes they found varied from small boats, buoys, shells, rocks, leaves of various shapes, flowers, beach umbrellas, seaweed, hotel buildings, and small huts.

Before the day started to heat up, students were able to swim, and even rent floats and canoes. After all the fun at the seashore, they continued their activities by making sand castles. Each group created a sand castle with tools brought from home. This simple activity proved to be quite challenging. Sand lacks the ability to bind its particles so sandcastles are easily destroyed. Students paid attention to ensure the right consistency by combining sand and water, then decorated their finished castles with  seaweed and coral.

The next activity, meditation, gave students the opportunity to share their experiences that day. Some of them talked about how they looked for mini crabs when they were swimming while the others talked about when they met strangers and learned how to behave in public.

Their last activity was to make a mandala utilising the seashells that had been collected, based on the rules of symmetry. Some created circles, while others were inspired by starfish, kites, and pearls. After the students had identified each other’s style of symmetry, they gathered the shells and returned them all to the beach. Students also made sure that they left the beach clean before going back home.

2. Utilise Natural Symmetry to Awaken Student’s Creativity

Symmetrical patterns in nature often inspire human creation of works of art, crafts, even architecture. In Bali itself natural symmetry can be found at temple buildings, the temples themselves, and other religious sites. In line with the Learning Centre concept which is Learning by Doing, students will gain first-hand experience by investigating the uniqueness of symmetry in greater depth.

During the first week, students studied the concept of reflectional symmetry and lines of symmetry through leaves. They made a butterfly collage from leaves, drew a half leaf, and made leaf rubbing art. In the second week, they discussed reflective symmetry and rotational symmetry in flowers. To better understand the symmetry, they made flowers from origami paper, cooked marigold flowers tea, and banana flower hearts. While they learned about symmetry, they also learned about floriography in which they discussed the parts of the flower and the meaning of various flowers.

The following week, they began to discuss seashells. Seashells are one of nature’s symmetrical creations. Students cooked clams and created handicrafts from the shells. Students also learned natural symmetry with a field trip to the beach, providing a better understanding by direct observation of the seashells and in the creation of a seashell mandala and a symmetrical sand castle.

3. Making Bracelets and Necklaces from seeds

Students learned the differences between dicots and monocots, cooked edible seeds, sowed papaya seeds, and created animal and plant collages from seeds. They also made body accessories in the form of bracelets and necklaces from Jenitri and Hanjali seeds, two types of seeds frequently used for a variety of  handicrafts in Indonesia.

Symmetrical Dancing Practice: Movements and accessories in dance also represent symmetry. Students practised three different dances – Balinese creative dance, Acehnese Saman dance, and Korean Buchaechum dance. The activity began with the making of symmetrical dance accessories to be worn during dance practice. With these activities, the Eco Warriors then contextualised the concept of symmetry through their body movements.

Barong Ket Miniature: The Eco Warriors worked together to learn about various types of Barong, a panther-like character in Balinese mythology, and created miniatures of Barong Ket. They identified and analysed the majestic appearance of Barong which utilises various symmetrical forms and ornaments.

Designing Symmetrical Logos: Observations were also made of numerous famous brands that use symmetrical logos and learned the benefits of using symmetry in logos. Each student then individually designed a symmetrical logo for the Begawan Art Expo, the final project of the Natural Symmetry Theme. At the end of the activity, they voted for the best logo to be used in the final project. 

Special Class: Learning Directly from Various Professional Experts

Begawan is fully aware that career exploration is an essential part of a child’s development. Living in rural Bali should not limit our students from knowing that there are many options and opportunities out there that may interest them and inspire them in the future. Thus, Begawan Learning Center started a Special Class in which our students can meet with people from various professions. This class, which commenced on November 25, is designed to enrich and broaden the students’ repertoire of options for their future career paths.

Police Take Care of Public Safety: Police officers were our first guests. Begawan collaborated with both police men and women from Gianyar Police Station to administer this session. During this session, our students participated in discussions about the roles and responsibilities of a police officer and how they work within the community. They also learned about traffic signs, safety when crossing the road, and awareness of the dangers that they may meet in the community.

Firefighters Never Give Up: The second guests of the special class were firefighters from Dinas Pemadam Kebakaran Gianyar. In this session, which was held on December 16, the firefighters shared their duties and responsibilities with our students. The officers also showed the equipment used when carrying out their duties, one of which was a full set of heat-resistant fire jackets. In addition, they also explained the concept of fire and how to prevent and extinguish it. The motto of the firefighters is “Never Go Home Before the Fire Goes Out”, conveying the message of never giving up to the students.

The Special Class will Invite Other Experts: This special class activity provides new information for students, which is not only information about self-protection, but also future careers. Begawan will continue to invite experts in other fields who are willing to share their jobs with our students. We have also listened to students’ thoughts and their curiosity about a particular career. Through this class it is hoped that students will increasingly recognize career options and be motivated to achieve their goals.

 Holiday Program: Begawan Olympics 2022

School holidays arrived, and it was time for our students to take a break from school routines. Knowing this, the Begawan Learning Center took the initiative to fill the holiday with productive activities entitled Begawan Olympics, carried out from 19 December to 23 December 2022 at the Begawan Learning Center and the Payangan Multipurpose Building.

The program, in which Flower Bud students, Eco Warriors, and Teenagers participated, offered a series of educational, fun, and interesting activities, including routine health checks, making ‘kokedama’, and participating in cooking and sports competitions. The program’s primary objective was to foster friendship and sportsmanship. In addition, it also incorporated significant life-skill components such as social and emotional skills, leadership, empathy, teamwork, respect, and acceptance.

Health Checks by Payangan Health Center: On the first day of this holiday program, Begawan collaborated with the Payangan Community Public Health Center (Puskesmas Payangan) to conduct routine health checks. This free examination consists of conducting health checks, nutritional status, and growth of our students at the Learning Centre. At the end of this examination, parents received their children’s latest health status. If any need for further health checks is seen, the Puskesmas team provides a referral letter. The team from the Puskesmas also facilitated a socialisation program about the significance of maintaining physical fitness through regular exercise. During this session, Begawan’s students eagerly participated in Q and A sessions with the speaker. They learnt how to maximise body metabolism when they worked out.The health check initiative is held every six months at Begawan Learning Centre to monitor the students’ health and growth, which also plays a role in supporting the learning process for our students.

A Simple Workshop – Making Kokedama: A series of activities took place on the following days. It began with students making kokedama, the Japanese art of creating ornamental plants. The material for making kokedama is ball-shaped soil, which is then wrapped in coconut fibre and tied with thread. Students grew succulent plants on kokedama, as apart from having a beautiful appearance, this kind of plant can help purify the air and regulate humidity in a room.

Begawan Olympics – Cooking Competition: After making kokedama, students participated in a cooking competition. They worked in four groups – gold, black, red and white. Each of the team creatively and cooperatively cooked food from bananas and made Basil seed drinks. The food and beverages were then assessed based on taste, presentation, uniqueness, teamwork and cleanliness.For approximately 90 minutes, each group devoted their creativity to making bananas and basil seeds into something attractive and tasty. The food made from bananas included chocolate bananas, dorayaki, croquettes and crispy bananas. Meanwhile, basil seeds were processed into varied fresh drinks, such as green cucumber ice, basil tea, and basil lemon. This activity ended with the announcement of the winners with points earned according to their rankings for each item.

Begawan Olympics – Sports Day: The third day was a preparation day in which each team had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the rules of sports to be held on the following days, including badminton, football and dodgeball. During this time, each team selected representatives who would play in each sport and discussed strategies to earn as many points as possible to win the Begawan Olympics. They also crafted some supporting attributes and chants to support their team mates. The fourth and the fifth days were the peak of the Begawan Olympics. During these two days, all teams competed with each other to win the sports games. The spirit of the game and friendship commenced when the whistle blew. A fierce badminton match was seen with points collected by students for each group. Neither party wanted to give up and the match continued with each team chasing for points until a winner was determined.

Congratulations to the Champions!: A closing ceremony ended the Begawan Olympics. In this session, the winning group, the most valuable player of each group, and the best supporters  were announced. The White group won the competition and were given gold medals. Meanwhile, the Best Player from each group was awarded to Kadek Agus Wiraguna from the White Group, I Gede Danu Jaya from the Red Group, I Kadek Ananda Mahadinata from the Gold Group, and I Putu Agus Pradnya Saputra from the Black Group. Lastly, the Gold group won the award for best supporter. Congratulations to the winners of the Begawan Olympics. Keep up the sportsmanship and enthusiasm for the next Begawan holiday program! 

Building a Better Future: The Importance of Comprehensive Education 

Understanding the Structure and Types of Teeth: A Special Class from Sintya of Gigi Bali Sehat

In December 2022, we organised a special class with Sintya from Gigi Bali Sehat, who is a specialist in dental health. Sintya shared her insights on how to maintain good dental health and avoid habits that can negatively impact it. The students learned about the consequences of biting their nails, grinding their teeth, lip biting and tumbh sucking, and they gained a deeper understanding of the structure and types of teeth. This knowledge will help the students to better care for themselves and their oral health, and they will carry these lessons with them for the rest of their lives.

Exploring the World of Academia and Marketing: A Special Class with Emick

In addition to learning about dental health, Begawan Learning Centre also organised a special class in January 2023 with university lecturer, Emick. Emick is a specialist in the field of academia and marketing, and she shared her expertise with the students. During the class, the students gained valuable insights into the day-to-day life of a university lecturer and the world of academia and marketing. They were given the opportunity to put their newfound knowledge to the test by working in groups to develop innovative business ideas that covered essential elements such as products, pricing, marketing strategy and distribution.

Providing Comprehensive Education: The Commitment of Begawan Learning Centre

This special class was arranged to inspire and inform the students of the numerous possibilities and opportunities that the professional world has to offer. We want our students to know that their education is just the beginning, and that there are countless paths to success, both in their careers and in life. 

Eco Warriors’ Creative Journey: Discovering Finger Painting at Begawan Learning Centre

Finger Painting is a fun and creative activity that allows children to express themselves. At Begawan Learning Centre, we recently held a fingerpainting session for our Eco Warriors, aged 8-13 years old, as part of their thematic class on natural symmetry. 27 students participated in the 2.5 hour session, and the results were amazing. We’re excited to share this activity with you in this edition of our newsletter.

Learning about Primary and Secondary Colours: Before beginning the session, the students made their own paint using materials such as starch, water, oil, soap, and food colouring. The process of making the paint was easy for the students, and they also learned about primary and secondary colours as they mixed and created new shades. The students were able to learn the basic concepts of colour theory while having fun creating their paint.

Introduction to Free-Style Symmetrical Painting: In the first session, the students were shown how to create a free-style symmetrical painting. They painted on one half of the paper and then folded it to make a symmetrical painting. The results were beautiful, and the students were amazed at how their paintings turned into symmetrical objects. Students created bears, butterflies, rainbows, and abstract paintings.

Friendship Finger Painting Activity: In the second session, the students participated in a friendship finger painting activity. They were divided into five groups. Each group consisted of 5-6 students, and they were tasked with creating a complete picture together, cooperating and communicating in order to create a group picture. 

The students were so enthusiastic about the finger painting activity that they couldn’t wait to continue creating more art at home. They took the remaining paint home with them, eager to experiment with new colour combinations and designs. “It was fun and I will make it at home,” said one of the students.

Continuation of Artistic Creations in the Future: We hope the students enjoyed learning about finger painting at Begawan Learning Centre. Not only is fingerpainting a fun and engaging activity for children, but it also allows them to tap into their creativity and learn about colour theory. We can’t wait to see what other artistic creations our Eco Warriors will come up with in the future!

A Symphony of Sustainability and Artistic Brilliance at The Begawan Art Expo

The Begawan Art Expo was a celebration of creativity, hard work and artistic talent, organised by the student group, the Eco Warriors. The event was held on 5 February 2023, at the Multifunction Building in Payangan and was a showcase of the students’ skills, environmental awareness and entrepreneurial talents.

Preparation and Hard Work of the Eco Warriors

Since early January, the Eco Warriors have been putting in a tremendous effort to make this event a success. They formed a tight-knit committee, divided themselves into several divisions, and practised their dancing and singing performances, as well as preparing to host a paper quilling workshop and a body accessories making workshop. They had produced various symmetrical products, including seed-based body accessories, Barong miniatures, paper quilling creations, eco-printed tote bags, food and beverage, and seashell mandalas, which they sold during the event. In the two weeks leading up to the event, their preparation intensified, with the students practising their dancing performances, choir singing, presentation skills, and hosting skills.

Spectacular Display of Cultural Diversity through Dance and Song

The students kicked off the event with a series of musical performances that left the audience in awe. The musical performances included duet singing by Gek Sinta and Gung Putri, a Balinese creative dance, a Buchaechum dance from Korea, a Saman dance from Aceh, and a choir performance singing Laskar Pelangi. The young performers displayed confidence, poise and talent in front of an audience of around 100 adults and children. The applause was thunderous, and it was clear that the audience was thoroughly entertained.

Artistic and Entrepreneurial Exhibition at Begawan Art Expo

Following the musical performances, the students organised an art exhibition where they displayed and sold their symmetrical art products. The variety of products was impressive, ranging from paper quilling products, seed-based body accessories, Barong miniatures, seashell mandalas, and eco-friendly products like tote bags with eco-printing. The students’ hard work and attention to detail paid off as the products were in high demand and sold out quickly, generating an impressive profit of 800.000 rupiah, which they later split among themselves.

Peer Teaching: Empowering and Inspiring the Community through Workshops

The event ended with workshops, where the students taught others how to make an owl-shaped paper quilling and seed-based body accessories. It was inspiring to see the young Eco-Warriors sharing their skills and knowledge with others, and it was clear that everyone who participated had a great time.

Leadership and Life Skills

The Begawan Art Expo was guided by two young MCs, Gayatri and Deva, and led by Angga as the head of the committee. The event provided the students with an opportunity to develop important life skills, including teamwork, perseverance, resilience, confidence and entrepreneurship. Through this experience, the Eco-Warriors not only showcased their artistic talents and environmental awareness but also gained valuable life skills that will serve them well in the future.

Celebrating the Accomplishments of the Eco Warriors

The Eco Warriors did an amazing job showcasing their talents and environmental awareness at the Begawan Art Expo. The event was a great success, with over 100 participants, and 30 parents and 70 school children in attendance. The students’ passion, creativity, and drive were on full display, and we are excited to see what they will accomplish next. We are proud of the Eco Warriors and their impact on the community and look forward to their future endeavours.

Collaborative Parent-Teacher Meeting at the Learning Centre 

At Begawan Learning Centre, we believe that education is a collaborative effort that involves everyone, including parents. To achieve this, we make sure that our parent-teacher relationship is strong and effective. On 14 February, we held a parent-teacher meeting that was full of heart-warming and informative moments.

Introducing our Programs: During the meeting, we introduced our programs, including thematic classes, proficiency classes, practical entrepreneurial classes and student support services. We emphasised the importance of a well-rounded education that provides students with both academic and practical skills, to ensure our students will be well-equipped to succeed in their future careers.

‘Shining Light Letter’ representing Students’ Achievements: We also highlighted the students’ achievements through an individual ‘Shining Light Letter’, which detailed each student’s progress and development in their activities at the centre. We wanted parents to see the impact that their child’s attendance at Begawan Learning Centre was having on their development.

Reviewing Guidelines and Expectations: In addition, we reviewed the guidelines and expectations for students and parents, mentioning attendance standards and the process of requesting permission for absences. We want to ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there will be no misunderstandings. This way, we can be sure that our students are receiving the best education possible, and parents can feel confident in the quality of our programs.

Gathering Valuable Feedback: To get valuable feedback from parents, we distributed a questionnaire to ask for their opinions on the learning activities at Begawan Learning Centre and their suggestions for improvements. We want to make sure that our programs are the best they can be, and parent input is vital in achieving this goal.

Engaging in a Q&A Session: The meeting ended with a Q&A session where parents asked questions and shared their thoughts. We were thrilled to see parents engaging with us and taking an active role in their children’s education. We value the input of our parents and want to make sure that they feel heard and included in their children’s educational journey.

Capturing the Moment: Finally, we took a group photo to capture the moment and the positive energy that was present throughout the meeting. We hope that this photo serves as a reminder of the collaborative effort that we are undertaking to provide the best education possible for our students. At Begawan Learning Centre, we value our parent-teacher relationship, and we believe that this relationship is critical for our students’ success. By working together, we can provide holistic education experiences that will assist our students to achieve their full potential. We hope that this parent-teacher meeting is the first of many, and we look forward to continuing our collaboration with parents to provide the best education possible for our students.

Links:

• Begawan's Website
• Begawan's Youtube

Tell Us How Your Project (Help Educate 50 Village Children in Bali - #51469) Is Going

TITLE OR SUBJECT OF REPORT

Conservation-Based Education Program of 50 Village Children at Begawan Learning Centre in Bali during July – October 2022

PROJECT REPORT

Tooth Theme 

Throughout July-August 2022, as a part of the ‘Teeth Hero’ thematic program, at the beginning of July 2022, Begawan’s students conducted a tooth decay experiment with eggshells. They chose eggs to represent teeth, as an egg shell is made of a similar substance as tooth enamel. They submerged eggs in different liquids, including coke, juice, vinegar, coffee, milk, alcohol, with water as the control liquid. For each liquid, they prepared an egg covered with fluoride toothpaste and an egg without toothpaste. They wanted to know the effect of fluoride toothpaste on their teeth. 

The next day, Begawan’s students observed changes in the colour, size, or shape of the experimental eggs. They found that eggs submerged in coke and coffee left stains on the eggshell, and it took time to clean the stains. They also found toothpaste-covered eggs stained less than those without toothpaste. The most drastic changes occurred in eggs soaked in vinegar. The vinegar completely dissolved the eggshell, leaving just the membrane behind. The students concluded that vinegar is bad for teeth because the acid weakens the tooth enamel.

During mid-July 2022, Begawan Learning Centre’s Eco-Warriors decided to make their own organic toothpaste after researching the toothpaste they normally use, which is full of chemicals. The students used coconut oil as the natural antibacterial, organic cocoa powder as the replacement for fluoride and added flavor, baking powder as a whitening agent, and organic stevia to decrease the sour flavor which came from the coconut oil. Our students began to realize that using regular toothpaste might lead to damaged teeth because of its excessive chemicals. The students also learned the better option of using natural-sourced toothpaste. This activity has proven once again that Begawan is keen to pay attention to its students’ health. 

On August 10th, 2022 after the final project entitled ‘Tooth Hero’ at the Learning Centre, fourteen parents of both new and old students attended a meeting. The education team began by giving parents their children’s individual evaluations, entitled Surat Cahaya Bersinar (Shining Light Letter). This evaluation and feedback by the education officers assists parents to know how their children are learning, and gives a better understanding of the learning process. In the next session, they discussed all the activities and programs from previous lessons so that parents became aware of their children’s activities, the upcoming  themes, the schedule, and the programs that they want to develop and grow. Following the presentation, the staff gave the parents a questionnaire, followed by a question-and-answer session.

It’s easier to have conversations about tough topics when relationships are strong. The facilitator can tell of student challenges, and parents will have more trust in the education team because of these positive connections. Students are less worried about the learning challenges because they have faith that they can overcome obstacles with their facilitator and their parents by their side. Because trust has been established, the team is able to work more effectively.

Soil and Farming theme

In mid-August 2022, Begawan’s students commenced a new theme entitled Soil and Farming, a theme which will emphasise the significance of soil health, types of soil, functions of soil, soil erosion and conservation, organic and non-organic farming, the rice cycle, and regenerative farming. To introduce the theme, the students learned about different types of soil and soil layers. They understood that soil consists of different layers and each layer has different characteristics. At the end of the month, the students learned about the function of soil to purify water by conducting a science experiment.   

Students worked in small groups, dividing the tasks among each member of the group so that their work would be more effective. Some students looked for rocks around the learning centre, other students made dirty water using a bottle of water mixed with dirt or potting soil. They also washed the rocks and sands in readiness for the experiment. 

When all the materials were ready, each group sat in a circle and experimented. They arranged the materials to represent the composition of soil layers in nature. At the bottom they put cotton, which represents the pores of the soil layer, then large rocks, which represent the bedrock soil layer. After that, small pebbles represent the regolith layer. Above this, sand represented the subsoil, charcoal then represented the topsoil and organic matter, and the top layer was covered with tissue-like soil pores. After such an arrangement, the water filtration was ready for use. They slowly poured the dirty water into the water filter. All the students watched closely how the dirty water was filtered as it passed through the layers to become clearer water.

After finishing the experiment, students shared their observations with their friends. All groups noted that the colour of the water after the filter process had changed. Before the experiment, the water was dark brown, but after the filtering process, it became slightly transparent. The experiment demonstrated to students that one of the most important functions of soil is water filtration. To a great extent, here in Bali, we rely on this groundwater, that collects in natural spaces underground to supply us with our clean water.

Begawan also organised a gardening workshop for Begawan’s Eco Warriors and Teenage students. This workshop aimed to regenerate the soil in the garden as well as redesign and redecorate. It was guided by Sayu, a Balinese gardening practitioner and expert who has experience in designing, managing, and maintaining permaculture gardens.

At the beginning of the workshop, Sayu shared with the students the idea of permaculture and regenerative farming, and why these ideas should be promoted amid the excessive use of chemical substances that damage the soil and the environment. As a concept, she affirmed that permaculture is an environmentally, economical, and socially friendly way of making use of the soil and land. It is indeed more eco-friendly and costs less than the conventional way of farming. More importantly, the results of this way of farming produce healthier products.

After listening to the idea of permaculture and regenerative farming, the students began a whole group discussion to visualise the design of the garden located just behind Begawan’s learning center. They agreed to transform the garden’s design into a WIFI symbol! During the discussion, the students also divided their roles and responsibilities for revitalising and redecorating the garden. Some of them were engaged in hoeing, some of them cut banana stems that functioned as organic compost, some of them made borders using coconut husks, some of them laid small stones in between the beds, and the rest were busy collecting dry leaves to regenerate the soil. This was a great student collaboration!.

At the end of the workshop, Sayu taught the students how to make an organic liquid fertiliser from a mixture of water, rice bran, compost, and palm sugar. This organic fertiliser will be used once in a week by the students to supplement essential nutrients in the soil needed by all plants for healthy and vigorous growth.

At the end of August, Begawan’s Eco Warriors learned about soil pH (a measurement of the acidity and alkalinity in soils). They explored what soil pH means, the function of measuring soil pH, the impacts of different level of soil pH on plant growth and health, browsed information about how to neutralize acidic and alkaline soils using tablets, and directly practiced measuring soil pH using a pH-moisture meter. In these learning activities, the students enriched their knowledge that soil pH level is one of major indicators of whether the soil is suitable for planting plants or not. Soils that are too acidic or alkaline should be given the necessary treatments before planting. It should be conditioned in such a way to make it neutral (pH level between 6.5 – 7.5). More importantly, the students also directly practiced using the pH-moisture metre to measure soil pH in different locations around the learning centre. As a result, the students learned how to use the tool and understand the soils around the Learning Centre which have a neutral pH level, and are thus suitable for growing a variety of plants.

At the end of this session, the Begawan’s Eco Warriors also learned about different types of soils. Begawan’s Education Team provided some soil samples taken from different places, such as Begawan’s rice field, the garden, the riverside, and the compost pit. Some soil samples from places around the Learning Centre were also taken for the students to observe. The students were challenged to observe and feel these soil samples to find out which ones have the brightest and the darkest colours, and which ones have the smoothest and roughest textures. They took turns to directly touch, feel, and observe the soil samples and then discussed the answers with their group. Finally, they discussed as a group and decided which type of soil is the best for agriculture.

Not to be missed, during August, the students also visited pottery makers at Arta Derau, Tegalalang, Gianyar. Puti, the business owner of the pottery, described the ceramics manufacturing process before the activity started. The students observed the equipment used to fire pottery inside the kiln. They engaged in a question-and-answer session on the material used, the method for creating ceramics, the temperature needed for combustion, the combustion process, the glazing process, the distribution of colors and paints, and ceramic sales and distribution. The next step was to look for inspiration by looking at various examples of pottery that were ready to be traded. There was a wide variety of pottery that appealed, including plates, cups, bowls, teapots, ashtrays, beads, figurines, spoons, and many more. They moved around the workshop while enquiring how to create particular shapes. There were also other artisans working in the space, creating ceramics on potter’s wheels and painting ceramics that have been through the air drying process.

Following a tour of numerous workshop spaces, the students  had the opportunity to create pottery while being guided by the two facilitators. Each received one coloring set and 500g of clay, and they learned how to build cups using the pinch technique. The cup was then colored and decorated. In the second task, the facilitator gave freedom to the children to express themselves. The majority of them created incense holders in the shape of flowers, cats, initials, statues, and plants.

The activity closed with a break and sharing potluck. They reviewed the process of making pottery and became aware of the characteristics of the soil that can be processed into craft materials. 

In September, after a few weeks of discussing soil, Begawan’s students commenced a discussion about agriculture and food. They started the discussion by reflecting on the question, “Where does food come from?” On September 19, our students processed some agricultural products to make plant-based food. They made vegan butter from refined coconut oil, soy milk, apple vinegar, olive oil, and sea salt. In small groups, they follow the recipe, carefully measuring the ingredients precisely so that the butter would taste good. They blended the ingredients until smooth, poured the mixture into a butter dish and refrigerated it until it set. After a week in the refrigerator, they checked the result, observed the texture, and tasted it, spreading their own home-made vegan butter on bread and then baking it. 

In October, Begawan’s students commenced several activities such as Seed selection, Science expo, and robotics. The seed selection activity is part of the soil and farming theme. Students selected which seeds are best and ready to farm.  Finally they held a science expo at a local primary school.

To conclude, Begawan runs on six days a week, with a duration of four hours per day. Apart from the lessons and classes above, Begawan also actively provides a free healthy lunch program and extracurricular activities; culinary and nutrition classes, martial arts training to help in self defence, Balinese traditional and modern dancing, permaculture classes, and Balinese literature classes. At the beginning of November robotics classes commenced, to introduce of a new computer proficiency class, as a continuation of the coding class

Links:

• http://www://begawan.life/

• 2022_JulyNov_Tell_Us_How_Your_Project1.docx (DOCX)