PARTNER CONTENT FOR SIME DARBY PROPERTY
How can I help
Let the team at Elmina Rainforest Knowledge Centre (ERKC) take you on green missions by becoming a friend of ERKC.
HELP International School assistant principal Daniel Paul Goldspink said that the City of Elmina offers a wealth of features that greatly enrich its students’ learning experiences, especially in sustainability, biodiversity and conservation.
“This forest serves as an invaluable outdoor classroom, allowing students to directly connect with nature and witness its intricate ecosystems up close,” said Goldspink.
He also added that the dedicated team at ERKC is committed to enhancing biodiversity there and has provided the students with a wealth of expertise.
“Through guided activities and interactions with these experts, our students gain a profound understanding of the delicate balance of nature and the importance of conservation efforts.”
For Elmina residents, Ahmad Syahir Yahya, his wife Maisyarah Mohd Yusoff and children, Ilham Awfar, 12, Abdullah Zubayr, 10 and Abdullah Rifaaie, 8, living in the township offers them the space and connection with nature that they feel is important for growth.
“The City of Elmina integrates well with nature and offers plenty of space especially for my kids, as they are still growing up,” said Maisyarah.
“They get to understand and appreciate nature more as compared to if they live in the city.”
Syahir added: “Awareness must be ingrained from childhood onwards. It is important to have awareness and the drive to protect our nature.”
Ilham said she loves adventuring around the forest, because “you breathe in good air, and you can see a lot of trees. You learn more about things.” She added that she has made new friends, and is looking forward to becoming a volunteer.
For teacher Sharifah Rafiza of SMK Seafield, Subang Jaya, bringing her students to the ERKC was an eye-opening experience.
“As non-residents of the City of Elmina, we were impressed to find that ELCN grows such rare tree species, such as the merbau and keruing,” she said, adding that they were shown how the seeds from these species were germinated and integrated back into nature.
“I feel the connection that youths have with nature nowadays is insufficient. In all my 30 years of teaching, students tend not to value the environment as important and are more focused on their immediate surroundings, especially given the rising influence of technology and gadgets.
“But I feel once they realise that this is a problem, they will comprehend it, especially if they are told about things like sowing these wild tree species can attract endangered animals, like the tapir, back to the region.”
