Green warriors do nation proud
A TAMIL school in Selangor has done the country proud by bagging a string of international awards for their eco-friendly projects.
At the recent World Invention Creativity Olympic 2018 (WICO) in South Korea, SJK (T) Kinrara was awarded gold medals for their insect repellant camping kit and eco-friendly hard water filter projects.
The event at the Seoul Trade Exhibition and Convention was held from Aug 2 to 4.
The medals, said teacher G. Sangkeri, who was in charge of the projects, were for best presentation, and outstanding creativity and innovativeness.
“Besides the organiser, participating countries also presented their own awards and the camping kit was acknowledged by India’s Sri Ramakrishna Institute of Technology.
“The project by M. Keexalinee, K. Keeshaan, K.S. Yogendran, Dhyaana Shivanyaa Chandrasegar, and Swaathi Mullaichelvan, received a special award for achieving the highest standard of excellence and valuable innovation,” she said, adding that the win was a great honour for the children.
The ‘young Einsteins’, aged between nine and 12, were the only primary school pupils among 20 groups from Malaysia.
Sangkeri said the school has been focusing on ‘green science’ for two years now and it has been fruitful.
“I teach problem-solving skills so they can explore safe, and natural solutions.”
The insect repellant camping kit, she said, contains 10 anti-microbial and anti-fungal items including facemasks, candles, and lotion. Made from plants used in ancient Indian, Chinese, and Egyptian communities, the items are safe for the environment, easy-tomake, and cheap.
Explaining the other project which filters metal ion in water, she said the team - Sancena Madavan, S. Muvendran, K. Kirtharna, V. Laavanan, and J. Shirndhiya Rachini - used resistance reading to test the minerals in stages. The filter’s natural materials are suitable for hot, humid, and wet conditions, making it ideal for use anywhere in the world, especially in Africa where clean water is scarce.
Both projects also won medals at the International Invention Innovation Competition in Canada, and the International Invention, Innovation & Technology Exhibition in KL, this year.
Thanks to their achievements, Yayasan my Nadi has pledged to help SJK (T) Kinrara build a science lab.
“It will definitely inspire more pupils to learn science,” Sangkeri said, adding that for schools to do well, support from the headmaster and parent-teacher association was crucial.
my Nadi chairman Datuk Dr Jeyaindran Sinnadurai said the non-profit foundation tries to get more Tamil schools to be active in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
“As an incentive, we upgrade and even build labs for deserving schools.”