Graduating with a Tree

Nearly 500 new students sat crosslegged at Manado's State Senior High School (SMAN) 7. It was the School Orientation Period (MOS), where new students are introduced. In front of them, Yudha Jatiwiyata Tunari demonstrated how to make compost. "The school makes a lot of compost from leaves because it has many trees," the 17-year-old student said. "The advantage is, we can make fertilizer every season, unlike people who make compost from fruit."

The environment was the main theme of SMAN 7's MOS this year. "Especially since we just received an Adiwiyata Mandiri Award," said principal Mediatrix Maryani Ngantung, 47. The Environment Ministry prize is awarded annually to environmentally conscious schools.

August 12, 2014