Bandung Regency – ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung continues to collaborate with various parties to actualize Green School that encourages the knowledge and awareness of school residents in an effort to preserve the environment.

This was conveyed by Mudir ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung, Dede Kurniawan when receiving the visit of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah and Faith to Action Network (F2A) Nairobi-Kenya to ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School, Monday (10/17).

“‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung has a Green School concept, but this concept is not only environmental greening, but a form of cooperation from various communities or interfaith. When it comes to the environment, this is a common task. The presence of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah is a bridge of cooperation between ‘ABS Bandung and outside parties who have the spirit and efforts to protect the environment,” explained Dede.

Reported from http://ecobhinnekamuhammadiyah.org/id/ that Muhammadiyah initiated a program that aims to care for harmony by inviting people to cross-faith together to preserve the environment. The program is known as “Eco Bhinneka”.

The Eco Bhinneka Program is a form of Muhammadiyah support for the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA). JISRA is a consortium whose members consist of various faith-based organizations, inter-religious, and other organizations that together want to encourage the realization of Freedom of Religion and Belief (KKB) in 7 countries: Ethiopia, Iraq, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda, and Indonesia.

Located at the IPA Laboratory ‘ABS Bandung, the meeting was attended by the Director of Faith to Action Network (F2A) Nairobi-Kenya, Peter K Munene, Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah, Hening Parlan and staff, Secretary of the Environmental and Disaster Management Institute (LLHPB) Regional Leaders of ‘Aisyiyah West Java, as well as the Manager of Business and Environmental Units at ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School, Ririn Dewi Wulandari, and Leaders of ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung and their ranks.

At the meeting, the Director of Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah, Hening Parlan revealed that ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung is one of the Islamic boarding schools that has carried out many actions in environmental conservation so that it can become a model in realizing Green Islamic Boarding School.

“‘Aisyiyah Boarding School became one of the models for us in creating Green Islamic Boarding School. And we hope, next year, this Green Islamic Boarding School model can be applied in 400 other Islamic boarding schools in Indonesia. In Muhammadiyah, we have around 430 Islamic boarding schools. And ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School is one of the best Islamic boarding schools in West Java. This becomes something special for us. So far, ‘ABS Bandung has done many actions, such as planting, greening, and waste processing. We collaborate with the Regional Leaders of ‘Aisyiyah West Java how to create Green Islamic Boarding School and if we have created Green Islamic Boarding School, then ‘ABS Bandung becomes the first and becomes an example for other Islamic boarding schools,” said Hening.

In addition, Hening explained that the cooperation program in realizing this Green Islamic Boarding School can be carried out with guidance and assistance for approximately 6-12 months with an action plan accompanied by modules.

“We will provide assistance for 6-12 months at most in building action plans and modules for Green Pesantren. The assistance provided can be through online and offline. We will hear more, because the material and needs in the field actually arise from the teachers or experts from other things. This can also be integrated by the lessons,” explained Silent.

This Eco Bhinneka Muhammadiyah’s visit is the second visit to ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung to discuss the follow-up plan of the Green School cooperation program. However, during this visit, Eco Bhineka Muhammadiyah collaborated with the Director of Faith to Action Network (F2A) Nairobi-Kenya, Peter K Munene to directly observe the environmental conditions of ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung.

Faith to Action Network (F2A) is an organization focused on issues faced by religious practitioners, including sexual and reproductive health and family planning, gender equality and women’s rights, pluralism, and understanding centered in Nairobi, Kenya.

For information, Muhammadiyah is in a consortium with Faith to Action Network in the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) program.

The meeting was continued by touring the ‘Aisyiyah Boarding School Bandung area to directly observe the study rooms, plantations, and waste processing.

“I am very impressed with what I see in this school, both inside and outside the school environment. There are many ventilations and windows so that the air flows well and the light can enter well too. Waste maintenance is processed well so that it can increase the income of the schools. The application of theory and practice is going very well. Learners not only learn theory in the classroom, but also practice what has been obtained in the school environment,” said Peter who also serves as Director of Faith to Action Network (F2A) Nairobi-Kenya.