By: Sani Firmansyah (Supporter Center Officer)

Masa Pengenalan Lingkungan Sekolah (MPLS) is an activity that is usually carried out in schools to welcome new students. The orientation period is common in almost every school, from junior high school, high school, to college. Almost all schools use this method to introduce the school environment to new students.

Each school has its own way of doing MPLS. SMK Atisa Dipamkara is one of the schools that chose to do MPLS with positive activities for the environment. The school, located in Tangerang, Banten, invited Panda Mobile on Thursday (12/7) to share conservation information conducted by WWF-Indonesia and environmentally friendly lifestyles.

The activity began with a video screening of Panda Mobile's educational activities followed by an introduction to WWF-Indonesia. "So WWF-Indonesia is a non-governmental organization that is tasked with conservation or protection efforts for animals and nature, both forests and oceans. In addition, WWF-Indonesia also educates schools through Panda Mobile units, from kindergarten to university," explained Sani from Panda Mobile.

"Through education to various educational institutions, WWF-Indonesia's Panda Mobile helps produce the next generation who care about the environment and can help disseminate information which is certainly very helpful for nature protection efforts," added Sani. The students were also introduced to one of WWF-Indonesia's campaigns, namely #BeliYangBaik. This campaign invites the public to support the protection of nature by choosing and buying products with environmentally friendly labels.

"Sis, how can we as school students help nature protection efforts? Because what we imagine, we have to go directly to the forest or the sea to protect it," asked Tasya, a student of SMK Atisa Dipamkara. "It's very easy, (by) together starting an environmentally friendly lifestyle, getting used to being wise in using water, tissue, paper, and energy. By saving paper, we have helped save Sumatran tigers, Sumatran elephants, orangutans and ecosystems in the forest," replied Sani.

The MPLS committee of SMK Atisa Dipamkara highly appreciated the activity. "Thank you WWF-Indonesia for coming to our school. Through this collaboration in the School Environment Introduction Period, it is hoped that the new students at SMK Atisa Dipamkara can not only get to know their new environment but also support the conservation efforts carried out by WWF-Indonesia through the education that has been given today," said Adreas, Chairman of the MPLS Committee of SMK Atisa Dipamkara.