Promoting Children’s Ideas for Better Living Environment:

Environmental Education Programme for Children Living in Deprived Urban Housing

Paramita Atmodiwirjo & Yandi Andri YatmoDepartment of Architecture, Universitas Indonesia

Background

Many children are living in poverty, especially in developing countries

Poor quality of living environment:-Inadequate space, overcrowded-Lack of access to basic services -Waste and pollution

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How to improve this condition?What is the role of education?

We want to live in a better environment

We have great ideas to improve our environment

Education= Building a vision for better environment

Healthy homes

Environment

-Ventilation-Natural light-Waste-Green-Water

Knowledge of healthy living environment

Healthy home education programme

Children worked in groups, accompanied by architecture students as facilitators

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In local neighbourhoodsIn primary schools

Learning approach

Learning principles Learning stages

Critical thinking

Creative thinking

Collaboration

Environmental awareness

1. Understanding existing environment (recall, observe, analyse)

2. Summarizing the criteria of healthy living environment

3. Application through design

4. Reflection

Understanding existing environment (recall, observe, analyse)

Analyse the problems in their home: the causes and how to overcome

Worksheet 1:Do you feel comfortable at home?

Identify different spaces in their home and the condition (lighting, cleanliness, fresh air)

room dark/light fresh/staleclean/dirty

problem how to overcomecauses

Worksheet 2:What happens to our waste?

Identify different kinds of waste in their surrounding and classify into reusable and non-reusable waste

Identify the journey of waste in their surrounding

Identify appropriate action towards waste

reusable non-reusable

Worksheet 3:How green is your surrounding?

Identify different types of plants in their surrounding

Mention various uses /functions of plants for human

Identify what might happen if there are no plants

types of plants examples many/few/none

Summary:How can we create a healthy living environment?

Summarize various aspects of healthy living environment

House with trees, clean, fresh air, with windows, ventilation and saving electricity

NOW, LET’S CREATE HEALTHY HOMES FOR US !!

Application of knowledge through design

Children’s ideas of healthy living environment

Programme evaluation*

Children were able to mention the requirements of healthy living environment

All children said that the activity was fun (especially the design exercise)

Some children felt the activity was easy, but some felt it was quite difficult. Difficulties were primarily in analytical tasks (thinking why, how, cause-effect)

*Based on questionnaires completed by children participating in 4 workshop sessions (n=124)

Create more windows and ventilation, in the house there should be a waste bin, plant more trees, the waste should be separated

The house should be bright, there should be ventilation, windows, waste bin, and clean water

From knowledge to creative ideas….

… then to vision and future real actions

Thank you

For further information: www.lingkunganku.cominfo@lingkunganku.com

Paramita Atmodiwirjo & Yandi Andri YatmoDepartment of Architecture, Universitas Indonesia