The Green Machine is Back with Exciting Projects

by Stefan Van Erven, Grade 11 student, member of the Green Machine -

The Green Team has reemerged this year with a fresh name “Green Machine”. Although we have new members and leaders, our commitment to the environment remains the same. Student initiative will continue to be the driving force to start and follow through projects. While we are very fortunate to have guidance and assistance of High School teachers Mr. Broadhead and Ms. Boray, the onus remains on us, the students, for decision making and carrying out projects.

We are a small club with seven student members from across the high school, committed to attending each meeting, accomplishing our goals, and spreading our mission of a more environmentally aware culture throughout CIS. Our meetings are led by our club president in a democratic way during Smart Period, and together we go through the week’s agenda and sign up for tasks and appropriate deadlines - mostly on voluntary basis.

As the Green Machine, we are truly excited about our upcoming projects including the Eco-Schools Project, the development of a small herb garden on campus, and contribution to EarthFest (a festival that promotes sustainability in Singapore). CIS has recently joined the World Wildlife Fund’s Eco-Schools initiative. The focus of our Eco-Schools Project, developed last year by the Green Team, is to create self sufficient planters on the South wings’ fourth floor rooftop terrace, where a small garden currently exists.

This year, the Green Machine applied for, and received, a $2000 grant from the WWF. This amount will be sufficient to build the first two composters and planters. The composters will use organic waste generated by the school (through recycling and removing it from a landfill) that assist in decomposition and compost production. The compost thus obtained will be an organic nutrient rich matter. It will be used to fertilise the soil in the planters, which will then grow plants, herbs and vegetables. The planters will also feature a rainwater harvesting system to make them entirely self sufficient with regard to water. The materials for the first two planters and composters are on order, and we will begin constructing the prototype as soon as they arrive.

We are also trying to accomplish several smaller projects. Sodexo plans to create a small herb garden outside the cafeteria to provide fresh herbs for the food served in the cafeteria and for students to take home. Green Machine hopes to collaborate in maintaining the garden and organising the manpower necessary to keep the garden productive.

Finally, the Green Machine wishes to make a sizable contribution to Mr. Broadhead’s festival, EarthFest, that aims to promote sustainability in Singapore, alongside other contributions from CIS.

So far it has been a good start for Green Machine. We have solid projects in the pipeline and an excited team who is eager to be involved. We’re hoping to create a more environmentally conscious mindset across the student body.