Leuser Nature School, Sumatra

This report is brought to you courtesy of Juang Solala Laiya, a communications and anthropology expert who recently visited Leuser Nature School. He had these beautiful reflections to share:

"What I admire most about Leuser Nature School is the educational concept that seeks to make the school a "bridge" to reconnect humans with the nature that surrounds them. This concept is reflected in the elements used to construct the existence of the school, both in its existence as a physical infrastructure, as an educational institution, as well as as an inclusive and non-discriminatory ecosystem. As a physical infrastructure, the school was built using a combination of local raw materials such as bamboo, wood, palm leaf roof, and clay brick walls. These materials make this school building very organic and blend with the natural surroundings. As an educational institution, the school program combines a formal teaching program with a nature-oriented knowledge program, such as introduction to the forest environment and organic agriculture. As an inclusive and non-discriminatory ecosystem, life at Leuser Nature School is built by interactions among individuals who come from different ethnicities, customs, religions, genders, and age groups that respect each other. In a wider network, life at the school is constructed by interactions between humans and the diversity of plants, animals, and the natural environment (soil, rivers, forests, etc.) which are an integral part of teaching and learning activities at the school. This concept presents a kind of counterculture to the myth of modern culture which tends to narrate the world as separate elements that compete with each other for dominance."

As a donor to this project, you are part of this incredible ecosystem.

Thank you for your support.

Links:

• Find out more about our work.