2012 CFP Activities

Banpogroo School’s 4.14 hectares of land area includes school buildings, a football field, a pond, and a farm. Now there is a forest within the area because OISCA CFP and Banpogroo teachers and students planting activity many years ago. The children’s nurturing and loving attention caused the planted saplings grew big and strong and developed into a beautiful forest. Because of activities such as these, students and teachers have become more interested in their surrounding environments.

Bannonglub School has a land area of 4.8 hectares and 0.8 hectares of this area is used for the Children’s Forest Program. The trees planted since the start of the CFP activities have matured. Te forest planted 7 years ago has grown so tall that villagers are able to get eggs of red ants. Red ants make nest on the trees. The ant eggs are rich in protein and become expensive ingredients in Thailand. And in the rainy season, the villagers can collect mushrooms.

Hill tribe children from the Akha and Lahu tribes come to attend Bannongpum School. In the two hill tribe villages, there are many poor families, and they were cutting down many trees to develop farms since old times. As a result, trees were lost and the villages and school faced serious water shortage. OISCA, therefore, started CFP in Bannongpum School and placed an emphasis on forest restoration by planting trees every year. The village people also participate in tree planting activities. Overall there has been a growing awareness toward tree planting among the villagers and the children.

Myae Phyu Primary School joined CFP in 2009 and planted a total of 320 trees on the school grounds and the entrance of the village. Most of the trees planted in the first year at the school grounds survived and matured because of the children’s good nurturing.

The Htan Pin Chaung Post Primary School became a new participant of CFP in 2012 because simply one of the teachers was interested in CFP. At first there were only a dozen of trees on the school grounds covering about 2 hectares. So the students and teachers were able to plant 205 trees, including Azadirachta Indica and Albizia Julibrissin! Also, they picked up plastic garbage, which was casually thrown away at the back of the school, and then created a garbage dumpsite. From them on, everyone regularly used the designated garbage site and, for the first time, the school grounds continued to keep its cleanliness.

We received wonderful christmas presents from Kohitsuji Kindergarten in Wako-city, Saitama Prefecture, along with plenty of bellmarks. The presents were heart-warming messages and drawings that were appreciating the Children's Forest Program.

Thank you, Koshitsuji Kindergarten!

Birar Primary School is located in the Kokopo District, Papua New Guinea. The local media often discussed about global warming and environmental disasters around the world. Kokopo experienced soil erosion and flooding first-hand thus frightening the local people. They concluded that in order to avoid future disasters, they must understand how to protect the environment. In 2011, Birar Primary School chose the Children’s Forest Program activities to promote awareness for children and adult. The community deeply appreciates Children’s Forest Program for supporting their environmental concerns.

Birar Primary School

CFP school since 2011

200 students

Kokopo District, East New Britain Province

St. Leos Yawakaka Primary School is located in the town of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea which is nearly 6 kilometers from a volcano area. In 1994, the volcano erupted and cracked the top of the mountain hill which caused water to flow out and flood a nearby boy’s high school. The damage resulted in a desert-like environment, destroying classrooms and other buildings. In 2007, OISCA’s Children’s Forest Program got involved to green the area by planting trees thus creating shade for the students to relax in. 155 students and 40 adults, including OISCA trainees, adapted a new mindset for the children in which they understood resilience by re-greening an devastated area through planting saplings.

St. Leos Yawakaka Primary School

CFP school since 2007

155 students

Rabaul Town, East New Britain Province

SICAS School located in Lahore, Punjab Province, joined Children’s Forest Program (CFP) in 2012. At this school,  an alumnus of OISCA Shikoku Training Center is working as a physical education teacher, and he promoted the participation of the school in CFP. At the school, there were opportunities to study about environmental problems and the functions of trees, but not to learn through actual experiences about how trees grow or how forests develop.

Tuol Trea chool was established in 1979 and is located in the rubber plantation area. The pupils know only the rubber plant and are not aware of any other kinds of forestry trees. In the school compound has only one tree variety so they needed some variety to plant in their school compounds.

A day at San Nicolas Elementary School starts with cleaning the school grounds. The children, who learned about the environmental protection through CFP, are now willingly picking up and separating garbage. Almost every day, the children are cheerfully running around on the cleaned school grounds. Recently, football (soccer) is getting popular among the Filipino children. Football games held in Manila between the Philippine national team and foreign national teams are now widely covered by television and newspapers, and the popularity of football is also increasing in the province.

The children with ear-to-ear smiles are flying paper airplanes. The paper airplanes are made of handmade papers from the indigenous cogon grasses. Cogon grasses have been treated as a nuisance because they cover plantations and arable lands, deprive the nutrients of the soil and sometimes cause wildfire. People have studied ways of utilizing the grasses and came to invent handmade paper. Cogon grass papers have a distinctive touch, and are processed into postcards, letter papers, envelopes, lamp shades, etc.

Mr. Reynaldo Bisnar, the Assistant Coordinator of CFP in Davao has been working with OISCA since 1992. For almost 21 years, he has been working and dealing with the CFP school management and school children to promote the importance of environmental conservation and protection.

Rey along with the other CFP Coordinators of the Philippines has been joining the empowerment training workshops and seminars organized by OISCA Manila. These include project management trainings, receiving lectures from the experts in field of sustainable farming and actual visits to farms and training centers that promote organic farming. CFP Coordinators like Mr. Bisnar are expected to impart the skills, knowledge and technical know how acquired from the empowerment training.

OISCA has been organizing greeting cards making to the CFP schools to be sent to the CFP supporters in Japan. The greeting cards designed by the students are usually hand painted or presented in collage or mosaic art made from indigenous and recyclable materials available in their area.

The process of making greeting cards encourages the students to encourage and motivate the students to be artistic and express themselves through art. The activity also promotes the development of the interpersonal and cognitive skills of the students as they interact with the other students their age while participating in the event.

OISCA has been supporting the Padre Burgos Central School through the CFP activities since 2007. One of the students who directly benefitted from CFP activities is Marc Dewey Angelo or Gelo to his friends. Gelo has been actively participating to the CFP activities of OISCA within and outside his school including tree planting, proper waste management and organic farming. Gelo is one of the core members of the committee that works on monitoring the planted trees under the CFP in his school.

Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School is one of OISCA CFP supported school. CFP has provided the school with training on environmental protection and proper waste disposal. The school observe segregation of school trash and applies the environmental principles of 3Rs (Re-use, reduce, recycle).

The school has encouraged the use of paper charcoals made from used paper products which they have learned from OISCA. The children also applied in their homes what they have learned from the trainings and environmental education provided by OISCA.

Reydenn Grace Tundan or Grace as she is called by her friends is a grade 6 pupil of Manaile Elementary School. She is one of several active participants of OISCA Children’s Forest Program in the school. Grace shared that she used to be indifferent of what is happening in the environment. She often heard at home and school that people should seriously take care of the environment. She was told not to litter and burn plastic and garbage. She does not take seriously the signs she sees in public places about throwing garbage.

After attending the seminar workshops organized by OISCA CFP, Grace now sport a different attitude towards the environment. She found the lectures simple and yet profound that it touched her heart as well as the other participant’s. From being someone that is oblivious about what is happening in the environment, Grace has become a true champion of the environment.

Buong Elementary School first opened in 1967 but was closed during Martial Law in the 70s. The school again opened in June 1989. The school is located at the foot of the mountain of Barangay Dumaguena about 18 kilometers away from the national highway of Ochentay Uno, Narra Palawan. 90% of the population are Tagbanua tribe members. Buong opened a 6th grade this school year 2011-2012. For a long time, Buong Elementary is an incomplete elementary school offering classes up to 5th grade in multi-grade classes supervised by two permanent teachers. Buong Elementary School is one of OISCA CFP Palawan supported school.

On October 2011, OISCA-CFP Palawan Coordinator introduced the use of banana leaves as pot in raising seedlings for the school’s organic vegetable garden. Using banana leaves a seedling pots is a new concept. After the CFP Coordinator had shown how to create seedling pots out of banana leaves, the students gathered banana leaves and decided to make seedling pots.

Bangladeshis have a sweet tooth and many sugar-loaded desserts are made. When coming to Bangladesh, one has to taste the popular misty and doi.

Bangladeshis have a sweet tooth and many sugar-loaded desserts are made. When coming to Bangladesh, one has to taste the popular misty and doi.

Misty is an oval shaped sweet with a dense texture made from semolina, milk and sugar syrup. Color varies from white to brown or dark brown depending on how long they are fried. This misty is one of the most prominent trademarks of Bengali Culture and probably the face of Bengali cuisine to people outside of Bangladesh. On the first time of taking misty, one would probably find it hard to finish the whole piece, but after while he will be surprised to be craving for more and will definitely be tempted to take another piece. This misty is just the right dessert, washing away all the spiciness especially after taking curry. It is addictive indeed, so be careful not to lose control on this sweet devil. Misty also serves as a round the year gift when meeting people. Especially if a foreigner brings this as a present when visiting friends at their home, the locals are more than delighted and will tell you, “you are becoming more Bangladeshi everyday”.

OISCA invited in May 2012 children’s representatives, 2 each from Fiji, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand as well as coordinators and school teachers in Children’s Forest Program (CFP) that marked the 20th anniversary last year, and conducted 10-day program which included joint conferences, visiting supporters and exchange activities in Japan.

In Mongolia, Children’s Forest Program (CFP) was started in 2010, and the CFP activities are slowly but firmly taking root in that country.

CFP tree-planting activities were carried out at Kindergarten No. 1, Erdenet City, Orkhorn Province, and Bugat Village Elementary School and Hangal Village Elementary School in Bulgan Province on May 12, 2012 which coincided with the “National Tree-planting Day” in Mongolia. Bulgan Province where tree-planting took place, is famous for having produced skiers, and in winter 2011, OISCA Mongolia, took initiative in collecting used skies from Aomori Prefecture and Hokkaido, and donated them to the province. That triggered the participation of these schools in CFP.

On the day of tree-planting, 30 kindergarten children and 35 elementary school pupils took part and also their families and neighborhood residents joined. It was the first experience for the children to plant trees, and they were all excited. They planted willow and elm which grow in subarctic and temperate zones, and fruit trees such as apple and raspberry.

Four Mongolian female OISCA trainee alumni played a central role on the tree-planting day. They underwent training at OISCA Nishi Nippon Training Center and Shikoku Training Center from 2008 to 2011, after returning to their home country, they are playing active role by utilizing the training results in their respective workplaces. Eager to promote the OISCA activities, they are also striving hard to implement CFP in the country.

The 2012 CFP Philippines National Conference with the theme “Revisiting the Past and Moving towards a Sustainable Future” was held at Rizal Re-Creation Center, Rizal, Laguna on July 11 – 15, 2012. The Conference was attended by some 30 people including the CFP National Coordinator, Provincial Coordinators, OISCA Manila staff, guests and Conference volunteers.

One of the activities was a review of the previous conferences from 2008 to 2011. This gave the young OISCA Technical Trainees Alumni Association (OTTAA) leaders a glimpse of the past and the impact created by the previous conferences in the operation of provincial CFP centers. The Coordinators were also asked to share the difficulties they encountered and success stories in terms of implementation of self-sustaining projects.

In the workshops, assessment from Provincial Centers was presented, and the participants discussed planning to address problems and difficulties. Also, they took up funding opportunities for program sustainability.

The Coordinators explained inability to apply global positioning system (GPS) in the documentation of CFP areas. In particular, they found geo-tagging difficult. This was addressed by asking Mr. Garry de Veluz, an OTTAA member from Lucban Training Center, to review the procedures learned from the previous Conference. Ms. Maribeth N. Reboton, National Coordinator, asked the Coordinators to use the GPS and incorporate what they learned in the coming reports.

Several speakers were also invited for upgrading of emerging programs and technologies. Ms. Maria Charito E. Balladares and Mr. Bryan V. Apacionado, both from the University of the Philippines at Los Banos gave an orientation on “Edible Landscaping.” Topics discussed included brief history, definition of edible landscaping, elements of design, principles of design, design consideration and process. The benefits of edible landscaping were also discussed.

Mr. Joey Austria of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) gave a lecture on the National Greening Program. The Secretariat was asked to write all issues that were raised in the subsequent Q & A session so that these can be discussed thoroughly with the OISCA Manila Office. This is in line with the agreement concluded by OISCA with DENR on the implementation of CFP.

The president of OTTAA Philippines, Mr. Antonio P. Mendoza, introduced the concept of water bonsai and its benefits. The word “Bonsai” is a Japanese word which means ‘planted in a container.’ Some of the benefits of having indoor plants in this case, the water bonsai, are: relaxing effect of plant, control of humidity within the optimum levels for human health, absorption of carbon dioxide and emission of oxygen to refresh the air. During the practical session, the participants expressed their creativity in the choice of plant material, design of vase and use of rope and pebbles to accentuate their water bonsai.

Team building activities such as exercise, swimming, dancing and games, were included in the program of the 4-day Conference. These helped foster teamwork spirit among the participants.

On the last day, Mr. Avelino O. Lozada, Coordinator from Zamboanga del Norte, shared how carbon sequestration measurement will be done in CFP sites and other reforestation projects of OISCA.

The detailed schedule of the conferece is available from the below (PDF).

OISCA Madura organized 2-day Eco Camp at PT Garam PERSERO Complex on 16 – 17 April 2012. 84 children from 3 different schools participated in this camp. They experienced many activities such as environmental lectures, nature games, tree plantings. The children in this area rarely join a camping event, so the schedule of the camp which was full of events might be a tough for the children, but it seemed like they enjoyed their time. They were always cheerful and active as you can see from the pictures on this site!

The detail of this eco camp is available from the icon below (PDF file).

The below Green Wave actions have been registered to the Green Wave Web site and become a part of the 2012 wave!

Argentina (1)

Canbodia (1)

China (1)

Fiji (1)

India (1)

Indonesia (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23)

Japan (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24)

Mongolia　( 1 / 2 / 3)

Papua New Guinea (1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8)

Philippines (1/ 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 / 24 / 25 / 26 / 27 / 28 / 29 / 30 / 31 / 32 / 33 / 34 / 35 / 36 / 37)

Sri Lanka ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5)

Thailand ( 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5)

UAE (1)

USA (1)

  (As of 21st of August, 2012)

To commemorate World Environment Day, OISCA Alumi Association of Demak conducted a 2-day eco-camp on June 19-20, 2012. The event was held at 2 Baleromo Elementary School at Dempet Subdistrict in Demak Regency. There were 9 elementary schools and 2 senior high schools that joined in this event with a total of 106 participants.

Activities for two days include environmental lectures, nature games, dramatic presentations and drawing contest. A symbolic tree planting was held on the first day during the opening ceremony which was opened by the head of Demak Regency Office of Environment. It was followed by lectures on waste management, biodiversity and mangrove program of OISCA in line with the global theme.

This was the second eco-camp event carried out by OISCA Demak with the first camp held at Bedono Village where the mangrove program is implemented. For this year, it was moved to a farming village so that children from Bedono could experience life away from the coast. Three elementary schools from Bedono sent their groups for the eco-camp. It was the first time for them to mingle with children from a farming community and learn about environemnt. Children from Baleromo Village were also able to listen the importance of coastal planting because it was something they have never heard of. They voiced their interest by wanting to visit Bedono Village one day and observe costal life as well as learn more about mangrove trees.

This event was held in cooperation with Office of Environment, Office of National Political Unity & Community Protection and the Land Office of Demak Regency. Environmental mentors were volunteer students from 1 Dempet Senior High School and Qodiriyah Harjowinangun Islamic High School. These students were trained by members of OISCA Demak for three days on eco-camp management and how to conduct nature games.

On the 24th of June 2012 OISCA UAE National Chapter organized an Inaugural Function of OISCA Children’s Forest Program and Love Green Clubs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Mr. Yasuaki Nagaishi, Secretary General, OISCA International officially inaugurated the CFP & Love Green Clubs in U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates). The Meeting started at 11 am with a silent prayer. Mr. K.C. Sen, President of OISCA UAE National Chapter presided over the function. Mr. Nagaishi explained the importance of ‘FURUSATO’ and OISCA’s contribution on Green Wave. Ms. Yui Sato from OISCA Japan, Mr. Bharat Chachara, G.M. of Dubai India Club, OISCA members and many school children attended the program.

Ms. Gayatri Sanjay from Emirates International School, Jumeirah and Ms. Anishka George from St. Marry’s High School Dubai delivered speeches on Environment Protection and our responsibilities. A power point presentation on the topic “Save Mother Earth” was done by Master Hrishikesh Sen of Emirates National School, Sharjah.

OISCA-International Secretary General Mr. Ysuaki Nagaishi inaugurated CFP by planting Ixora coccinea (Jungle geranium) at the Indian Club premises where representatives from the Indian High school - Dubai, Our own English High School - Sharjah, Emirates National School – Sharjah, Indian High School– Sharjah, Emirates International School – Jumeirah and St. Marrys High School – Dubai participated. Mr. D. Asok Kumar, Director of Public Relations - OISCA UAE welcomed the gathering and Ms. Pancy Lobo, Coordinator of CFP and Love Green Club conveyed vote of thanks.

Everyone repeated the Oath to protect Mother Earth after Master Arbind Sanjay of Emirates International School, Jumeirah. The Oath: "I pledge allegiance to the Earth and all its sacred parts, its water, land and living things and all its human hearts. By fostering a deep sense of connection to others and to the earth in all its dimensions, holistic education encourages a sense of responsibility to self to others and to the planet”.

On June 25, 2012, a new Children’ Forest Program (CFP) was launched in Misiones, Argentina. This was made possible with the collaboration of the Argentine Cooperative of Colonization (ATAKU), a Japanese cooperative established in 1953 to help Japanese immigrants settle in the country.

The launching begun with an opening ceremony and was followed by a tree planting activity. This was held in the northern forests of Misiones Province leading to Iguazu Falls in the borders of Brazil and Paraguay, where Japanese immigrants settled. The said forest of about 120 hectares that has been maintained and preserved by the cooperative has been named as “ATAKU Forest”, and was also visited by OISCA President Yoshiko Nakano in October 2009. It was during this event that a commemorative tree planting activity was conducted, which later resulted in a growing movement towards “making the forest a place for parents and children to learn about nature” and “preserving nature for the future generations”. This significant initiative has been welcomed by the local citizens, and as a response, ATAKU took the lead in implementing CFP to involve the youths in caring for nature.

This memorable day was attended by more than 100 people, which included 50 children from 11 schools, teachers, parents and representatives from Igauzu Japanese Association from neighboring Paraguay, the Association for Coastal Reforestation from Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, ATAKU and OISCA Japan. Moreover, the Municipal Mayor of Garuhape and the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Misones province also came to join the celebration. The 11 participating schools were also presented with the “Green Wave 2012 Certificate” by OISCA President Yoshiko Nakano.

This launching in Argentina marks the 4th CFP country in South America along with Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, and is the 32nd in the world.

Tropearng Reusey Primary School in Cambodia joined the Green Wave this year. Before the Green Wave day, the environmental workshop was held and children studied about many environmental issues such as importance of recycling, global warming, and technique of tree planting.

In the morning of 22nd May, 439 children gathered to participate in the Green Wave action. The total of 400 tree seedlings was planted this time (245 Neang Noun seedlings, 60 Beng seedlings, 2 Kror Nhung seedlings, 50 Kohkos seedlings, 43 Sokrom seedlings). The seedlings planted this time were forestry trees that children rarely see in their community, so OISCA staff explained the name of each tree and the reason to plant them.

Their Green Wave action has been registered to the Green Wave Website. Their action became a part of the “Green Wave”!

『Action Plan Kicked Off』

Jabal and Zalfaa visited Japan to participate in the CFP Goodwill Ambassadors Program held in Tokyo. In the 10-day program, they created an action plan for their school's CFP activities. In their plan, the very first action was to organize Green wave in their school.

Soon after they returned home, they started to organize the Green Wave. On May 22 which was the International Day for Biological Diversity, they planted three different kinds of native trees in their school yard with their friends.They did kick off their action plan they made in Japan.

The photos sent by the coodinator to the OISCA Headquater surprised us because expressions of Jabal and Zalfaa as they smiled to the camera with their friends after the Green Wave seemed to exude confidence, which we did not see during their stay for the CFP Goodwill Ambassador program. They were the youngest participants to the program. In the course of the 10-day program with the other elder participants from other countries, Jabal and Zalfaa seemed to absorb a broad-ranging knowledge and gain confindence in proceeding with CPF activities. We hope them to keep working as active CFP leaders of their school.

Children's Forest Program celebrated Green Wave again this year! Many reports have been arriving  from all around the world, such as Indonesia, Mongolia, India, Japan and Philippines. ARIGATO to all for your contributions to the Green Wave Campaign!

Detailed reports will be put on our website later date.