Many Balinese people live in harmony with the natural environment, seeing spirit and soul in the natural world around them. We took a look at the Green School in Bali, an international school without walls and made out of bamboo. The Green School’s goals are to deepen the bonds between people and nature, and to teach children how to protect the environment. Through discussion and a short video, we learned about some of the sustainable practices of the Green School, such as use of biodiesel for their bus, compost and water filtration system, use of solar energy, and more.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biVwnTAxZXY?ecver=1]
Final years students take a class in the secondary school areaThe Green School (Bali) is one of a kind in Indonesia. It is a private, kindergarten to secondary International school located along the Ayung River near Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. The school buildings are of ecologically-sustainable design made primarily of bamboo, also using local grass and mud walls. There are over 600 students coming from over 40 countries with a percentage of scholarships for local Indonesian students.The impressive three-domed “Heart of School Building” is 60 metres long and uses 2500 bamboo poles. The school also utilizes renewable building materials for some of its other needs, and almost everything, even the desks, chairs, some of the clothes and football goal posts are made of bamboo.The educational focus is on ecological sustainability. Subjects taught include English, mathematics and science, including ecology, the environment and sustainability, as well as the creative arts, global perspectives and environmental management. This educational establishment is unlike other international schools in Indonesia.Renewable energy sources, including solar power and hydroelectric vortex, provide over 50% of the energy needs of the school. The school has an organic permaculture system and prepares students to become stewards of the environment.The school was founded by John and Cynthia Hardy in 2008.