Week Three

Day 10

6th July

Finally, the day we all had waited for. Today was the official school-level launch of the Program Pemuliharaan Alam, which is the name of the campaign initiated by both teams competing in the INTI College iChallenge 2009. The event was attended by Pengetua Lily, all teachers, students and PTA members including Chairperson Mr Adrian Minjoot as well as our INTI Mentor Christine. After the usual Monday assembly, the launching got underway. After speeches by our teacher advisors, both Pengetua Lily and Mr Adrian were also given an opportunity to say a few words of encouragement towards the support of the campaign. Following the launch, which was symbolised by the watering of a few potted plants, both teams HydroNeptune and Greenplugs took to the stage to perform our theme song, specially composed by exco member Chua Yumin and Bryant of Greenplugs with lyrics by Aaron and Joshua Fernandez. Though the problem of an unstable PA came up, we managed to pull it off. We were then greeted by Christine, teachers, and PTA members on a job well done on the launch. Shortly after, Aaron had to leave school due to family matters but the team regrouped and had a meeting with Christine on the various plans to be carried out. Dedication to the limit!

Teachers and guests

The launching ceremony

The banner for our campaign

Receiving the INTI iChallenge Passport

Us singing the campaign theme song,
introduced as "Together" but originally named "Open Our Eyes"

Day 11

7th July

The second day of the third week of our campaign was the official launch for our team, HydroNeptune. Thus began the day to officiate our presence among fellow La Sallians. It started off with an introduction speech by Aaron, followed by the official launch by Mr Loh, Mr Woon and Puan Nalaini, which was to cut a blue ribbon and demonstrate a traditional water filter using linen cloth and a case underneath. After that, it was the giving out of cactus plants to all teachers who had been at the assembly. The cactus plants, sponsored by the PRS, were to symbolise the natural phenomenon of water conservation by a small cactus for it to survive the harsh climates around the world. If the world’s natural residents can adopt such measures, why can’t we as human beings? Later in the day, further discussions were done to ensure all of us were on the same page on the project. It was decided that an expert had to be called in to check on our site if we wanted progress. A letter was drafted out to be sent to certain parties requesting for personal support. Before ending the day, the team together with Puan Lim also did a launch for the campaign for the afternoon session during the noon assembly. Teachers were also given cactus plants as a memento.

The natural filter used in our opening demo

Aaron and his opening speech

Teachers and their cactus plants

The scene from above

The afternoon session joining in on the campaign

Day 12

8th July

Today was the official launch of Greenplugs and their campaign. As always, the team was there and ready to lend a hand to our comrades. After the launch, we had the honour of rewarding the first individual contributor to our campaign, as Wong Chern Hoay had tirelessly collected air conditioning water from his own home to be used in the eco garden. Mr Woon was invited on stage to hand Wong a limited edition badge as a symbol of his support. Thank you so much for contributing! On this day too Ivan and Zhi Peng managed to clean up the inner portion of the filter tank which had been filed with sand. Besides that, Puan Ng had a session with both teams today on the tasks and plans we had. This is where Aaron reassigned members of the team to their different positions. Ben Zhi was given control of slideshows, videos and presentations while Ivan was to be in charge of the quiz. He was to be joined with Zhi Peng and exco recruit Yao Chang on the work on the garden, with Yao Chang being the one in charge of the new additions to the garden site. Zhi Peng also had a special project planned for the afternoon session, no info on this here yet. Aaron was solely in charge of the journal, reports and admin tasks. The team was required to compose their own reports for their respective fields for the compilation of the final report. Another project to be done was a signature campaign. The target: to get as many signatures as possible from all La Sallians as a show of support towards the campaign. Right after school, the contractor for the garden site had arrived. He conversed with our teacher advisors on the site, giving ideas as well as quashing a few. In the end, there were changes to be made once again. More work to be done once again. A gruesome day on our minds, definitely...

A reward for your support =)

Day 13

9th July

One word for today: demoralising. Though it seemed an ordinary day for the team, with discussions as well as some work being done, some occurrences put on a mark of negativity to the team’s morale. The only good point was that a detailed financial report had been done and we received good news that gardening materials were being sponsored. Our uncomfortable afflictions include a misunderstanding with our compatriots which was deeply engaging though unnecessary and also a proposal to change our project site once more from our teacher advisor. The proposal is to use the surau idea instead of the eco-garden due to the practicality of costs and use. In all the heat of discussions, it was unanimously decided to continue with our current plan as too much effort had been done towards it as well as the creativity in the garden, albeit the warning of high costs and maintenance issues. The team reassured Miss Ng on the fears of the initial plan not taking off and also proposed new ideas to further insure all goes well. New schematics were to be drawn up for tomorrow when the contractor revisits while reports are to be done before our INTI Mentor arrives as well. Overall, it is proving to be a hard few days on the team as there is hope that Friday will bring some good news instead of conflicting views.

Day 14

10th July

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worst, well, it did. A bright start was with Ivan’s Water Knowledge Quiz, with 3 questions being asked to the whole school during assembly. Thought that got on well, dark clouds were heading our way. After speaking with our teacher advisors, we found out that our campaign and projects, notably the eco-garden plan, were facing a potential backlash and lack of support from all quarters except students. In a detailed talk with Miss Ng, we realised how poor situations were that the term demoralising was an understatement. The team was in shambles, eventhough we were on verge of having some good occurrences such as the arrival of plants and garden materials. Financial issues came about, and so did the question of discipline and consistency in our plans. Support from various sources were being drained, much to our heartache. We were meeting obstacles in almost every manner. Discouraged but undeterred, the team set out to find solutions. Aaron had the task of preparing petitions and support lists to collect signatures as well as selling HydroNeptune’s badges. Not long after, we manage to have teachers of the school to adopt plants and flowers for the eco-garden. Each plant was to have its owner and placed within the garden. Sales of the badges were good, with almost half being sold in matter of hours. Yao Chang managed to get support from a number of teachers to pledge their support for the plant adoption. Ben Zhi had started on the slideshow presentation and a letter was drafted out for the official at SYABAS, which was to be invited for a talk next week. Ivan and Zhi Peng had dug the soil where the plants were to be planted and it looked well. We figured that most of our problems had been solved, until later in the day. Then came the pipe workmen, who were overseeing the work to be done on the gutter system and the surau plan. Both plans had to be a standalone project and not connected to each other and the eco-garden, though an idea is still pending. Later arrived our INTI Mentors who were expecting to see a working system in place at the eco-garden, though we apologise for failing in that respect. During that visit did Aaron realise a huge flaw in the eco-garden quotation agreed upon by our advisors with the contractor: The sprinkler system was left out indefinitely! A huge revelation that was surprising to our INTI Mentors as well. Shell-shocked, Aaron was the only one there at the site with any knowledge on its working as the rest of the team had left much earlier. Right then the Chairperson of the PTA, Mr Adrian dropped by for awhile. After some discussions and toils in explaining with the contractor and teacher advisors, a solution was reached. Relieving indeed, though with a hefty price as the new schematics will require more funds. As the day drew to a close, a light moment was really welcomed at the wall of a new mural painting in conjunction with the campaign by trainee teachers from our school.

Regardless, it was a day and week to ponder much on our campaign. The three weeks that have gone by has shown the team the that trials and obstacles come about anywhere we go, yet we insist on going pass them to achieve our goal to creat awareness among our fellow La Sallians.

Quiz time

Support from Scholastic official Patricia Kong

Teachers Vasantha, Chang and Ling Ying showing their support
by adopting a plant in the eco-garden

Flowers and plants for the mini-nursery

The surau plan site

At work on the gutter system

Our INTI Mentors and Mr Adrian Minjoot

Teachers and the mural painting

Afternoon junior campaigners Ashley and Teh Sheng Heng joining in the with their support. Great job guys!

PS: Dont forget to leave your mark on the campaign by voting in the polls that have been added to our page. Thanks for all your support!

Blog report:
Visits : 169
Visits today : 7
Update by Aaron