By: Hanna Wita Astaranti (Volunteer Panda Mobile) & Natalia Trita Agnika

One of the goals of nature conservation efforts is to realize sustainable nature and a better life for current and future generations. Yes, this nature is not actually an inheritance for our children and grandchildren. This nature is actually a loan from them, so we are obliged to protect it because they have the right to enjoy a sustainable nature.

Conservation efforts cannot stop at just one generation. There will be a time when children will become adults and interact with the environment. If conservation values are instilled in them from an early age, they will become decision-makers and actors who support the preservation of nature. Their lifestyles will also become accustomed to an environmentally friendly green lifestyle.

The process of introducing nature and raising awareness of the importance of natural resources in an ecosystem of life to children can be done through various ways. However, the most effective way is through various interesting activities that are closely related to children's lives. One of them is done by WWF-Indonesia's Panda Mobile. WWF-Indonesia's environmental education truck visits schools and public areas in an effort to spread the conservation virus, especially to children.

Various pictures of protected animals that adorn the truck make children very interested. Not to mention the back cabin of the truck that can be opened and converted into a stage, a place to watch movies, and a library, making children even more excited about every Panda Mobile visit, such as the visit to Rhendawa English School, Cilegon, West Java last Wednesday (07/20).

A total of 180 elementary and junior high school students of Rhendawa English School participated in Panda Mobile activities. They were divided into two groups, namely elementary and junior high school. The elementary students listened to storytelling by Kak Ryan in the school yard. The story about a baby orangutan who lost his parents due to human intervention in destroying the forest opened the students' minds that to save animals, humans must take good care of the forest.

At the same time, junior high school students held a movie discussion with facilitators from Panda Mobile in one of the classrooms. They solemnly watched the movies "We Are Connected" and "The Man". Discussions about the movie and what it has to do with the current state of nature became material to discuss together after watching the movie. Students in grades 4-6 also had the opportunity to watch the movies "Tiger Hunters" and "WWF Sumatran Elephants" and discuss them. "What makes elephants hunted by humans?" asked Daniel, one of the 4th grade students. His classmates replied that elephant ivory is considered valuable by humans so it is hunted.

Not only theory, the Panda Mobile team also taught children how to make hydroponic plants. Before the practice took place, students were given an understanding of hydroponics that can drain water so that the water can be used for other purposes. The results of making hydroponics are stored by the school to be used as student learning materials.

The students' curiosity about various protected animals in Indonesia was satisfied through the animal introduction activity. They also read various books in the Panda Mobile library.

When dealing with children, one effective way to incorporate conservation values is through play. So it was no surprise that the students were excited when invited to play giant snakes and ladders with an elephant theme. Every time they reached a box with information about elephants, they read it carefully.

Panda Mobile activities like the one at Rhendawa English School are constantly being carried out in other schools and public areas. You can help spread the conservation message to children by inviting Panda Mobile through wwf.id/pandamobile. The hope is that children who have received proper conservation education can become the next generation of conservationists. Let's grow Indonesian children who are cheerful and love the environment.Happy National Children's Day.