Youth Environmental Guardians@Mayflower

2010-09-08T08:58:00.006+08:00

Teck Ghee YEC Environmental Awareness Project - Soap Making Workshop

The YEGs attended a soap-making workshop, on 4th September 2010 from 10 to 11am at Teck Ghee CC organized by the Environmental Interest Group,Teck Ghee YEC.

The aim of the workshop is to provide a platform of outreach to spread the message about the importance of recycling and waste minimisation to students and teachers.

The objectives of the workshop are as follows:

a) To increase the participants’ understanding on the impact of recycling instead of disposing waste cooking oil on the environment.

b) Through a hands-on session, they will discover the process behind the formation of soap.

Ms Lok trying out soap making with the YEGs.

Materials used for making soap from waste cooking oil.

The YEGs hopes to spread the skills they have learn to the rest of the students in 2011.

Community In Bloom Award

2010-07-18T13:32:00.009+08:00

Mayflower Secondary School YEG garden was ranked Silver in the Community in Bloom (CIB) Award 2010. Here Mrs Ess is holding the award with two YEGs, Jeremia (left) and Gordon(right)

The YEGs are responsibel for the awards. Credits goes to them

Here are some information about the CIB.
(Source: http://www.thegovmonitor.com/world_news/asia/singapore-community-in-bloom-awards-2010-entries-up-by-45-35340.html)

Community in Bloom Awards 2010 saw a 45% increase in the number of participating gardens this year compared to the previous year.

A total of 279 community gardens took part in the biennial competition, organised by the National Parks Board (NParks) to recognise and reward excellence in gardening efforts by community groups in public and private housing estates, educational institutions and organisations.

NParks received 193 entries in 2008.

Since the awards were started in 2005, the total number of entries has been increasing for every year it was held. Organised for the fourth year, the awards also saw an increase in participation in each category.

There are in total 124 entries from public housing estates (80 in 2008); 23 from private housing estates (17 in 2008); 83 from educational institutes (47 in 2008); 49 from organisations (31 in 2008.
The awards was presented to the 279 gardening groups during the Singapore Garden Festival 2010 at Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre in July.

Mdm Faridah and Mr Mark Cheng also took the opportunity to visit the Singapore Garden Festival where they gather ideas to make improvement for the YEG garden.

Mdm Faridah considering the possibility of expanding the orchard garden in school.

2010-07-03T14:30:00.010+08:00

NEA Central Regional Office and Central Singapore CDC invited 3 representatives from Mayflower Secondary School to attend the 6th Central Singapore Public Health Forum 2010 held on Saturday, 26 June 2010 from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

It was held at the Singapore Islamic Hub, 273 Braddell Road Singapore 579702. The Guest of Honour was Mr Heng Chee How (Minister of State, Prime Minister's Office) and the host was Mr Zainudin Nordin, Mayor for Central Singapore District

Our students learned some interesting facts about littering in Singapore from attending this forum.

Here are their reflections.

Ng Lin Jie

After attending 6th Singapore Public Health Forum, I felt that something must seriously be done to ensure Singapore's reputation of being a clean and green city.

Through this forum, I discovered that 4 out of 10 people in Singapore litter. This is a serious problem as the figure shows that 40% of people in Singapore litter which means that 2 million out of the 5 million living in Singapore litter.

With this statistic, we Singaporean need reflect seriously as this suggest that if we do not have any cleaners, we would be living in the condition worse than that of a squatters or a slum.

Just imagine Orchard Road being dirty. Would anyone still like to shop there?

My friends also litter. They said that it is the cleaner’s job is to clean, so by littering, they are helping the cleaners to keep their jobs.

But do they know that $30million are spend every year to keep Singapore litter-free?

Imagine if we do not hire these cleaners for 10 years, we would have had $300million by now. We could have spend these on heath care or education, which to me are more important.

I learned in this forum that there are more Singaporean litter-bugs than foreigner litter-bugs which means that Singapore cannot entirely blame the foreigners for littering in our city.

We should learn to stop littering as hiring cleaners is only a short term solution. When India become more develop, the workers would be unwilling to sweep the floor for us, just like how Singaporean are unwilling to sweep the floor even in our own country.

Therefore when the time come, we can only depend on our self. As Singaporeans and as human beings, we should play a part in keeping our environment clean as we must realize that we are not the only species that are living in this world. The other species did their part by not littering, with the exception of letting out some poo here and there. Every living thing in this world deserves to live in a clean environment, so we should also play a part in letting this happen.

Jeremiah Chan Kok Li

In order to solve our littering problem, we must first find the source of it before we can rectify the problem.

One of the problems identified is the failure of the parents to instill good habits into their children’s life for example throwing your litter in designated rubbish bins. This is probably because most of our parents born in the 60’s era were brought up with the mentality that it is alright to dispose their rubbish anywhere they like. At the same time, it may not be a culture in some foreign countries to dispose their rubbish properly. As the saying goes “Like father like son”, the children follow after the footstep of their parents, be it good or bad.

Therefore, to rectify this problem, we must first educate the public about the serious health hazards that can be brought about by improper disposal of rubbish and the serious consequences that follow after it in order to maintain a clean and green Singapore.

Dennis Tan

I found today event was very entertaining and enriching. Today's presentation focused on Anti-Littering. It aim was to prevent littering in public places by adding more bins employing more cleaners to clear the litter. However, the problem still persist, therefore, today a new Anti-Littering campaign called "Do your part don't be a litter bug" was launched.

NEA’s target is to Increase more bins and improve the design of bins. For example, ash tray have been incorporated into the design of the bin as smokers have a hard time finding ash trays in various places to throw and so they litter out of inconvenience.

In addition, an even stricter enforcement will be implemented such as the corrective work order and targeted education so as to educated younger generations about the problem with littering.

There was a short debate session involving students from AJC and the theme was "Singapore is clean because of its army of cleaners".

From this event, I feel that the education of the young generations is also vital in changing the mindsets of our young citizens so that they do not become litter bug.

2010-05-29T17:57:00.009+08:00

Two Environment Champions from Mayflower Secondary, Loic and Dennis attended the Environment Champions (EC) Networking Session (Secondary Schools), organized by the Raffles One Earth Club and the National Environment Agency (NEA).

The EC Networking Session is a platform for ECs from different schools to come together, network and interact.

During the session, EC were able to share their ideas and best practices with each other, which stood them in good stead as they plan and implement environment initiatives in their respective schools.

Details of the event

Venue: Raffles Institution (Junior College)

Date: 29^th May 2010 (Saturday)

Time: 8.30am to 4.30pm

Loic making a presentation during the networking session.

Dennis turn to make his point.

2010-04-24T14:32:00.001+08:00

2010-04-24T13:07:00.007+08:00

Our YEGs were at the GreenFest environmental sharing@Ri on the 23rd April 2010 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Our YEGs were there to promote the use of Shoo Mozzie, the 100% organic insect repellent.

Loic speaking to a teacher from the Global Indian International School.

Sharing, networking and just having a fun time.

Our YEGs.

One for the road.

Loic presenting the work of YEG to the participants at the environmental sharing.

Macus, Jeremiah and Loic handling the Questions and Answer session.

Green Day@NIE

2010-03-19T11:49:00.002+08:00

The Green Day@NIE was organised on Tuesday 16th March 2010 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at UiD Level 1.

Minister for Education, Dr Ng Eng Hen,planted a tree at NIE just outside the Student Hub on to celebrate NIE’s 60th anniversary!

As part of GreenDay@NIE and in line with 2010 being the United Nation’s International Year of Biodiversity ( see http://iyb2010singapore.blogspot.com/ ), the NIE Green Club presented an array of fun and educational activities which include the following highlights:

- A Reverse Vending Machine for recycling placed at the Student Hub from 15th March to 22nd March. Feed cans, plastic or glass bottles to the machine and receive a sticker for every item recycled.

- Green activities by a group of students from the School of the Arts (SOTA) and Mayflower Secondary School. Mingle and chat with these students to learn more about their green projects.

Our YEGs Gladys and Brenda were there to show case Shoo Mozzie.

Here are their reflection.

I went down to the National Institute of Education with my friend Brenda last Saturday, to promote an organic, eco-friendly insect repellent, as well as updating on what my seniors have done to help reduce carbon footprints in the atmosphere.

In total, we have sold 14 bottles of Shoo! Mozzie on Saturday. I was shocked when some people made the trip down to NIE just to give positive comments about the insect repellent's effectiveness and even encouraged others to purchase the Shoo! Mozzie.

I have learnt a lot from the trip. Schools like School of the Arts, were present too, several interesting posters documenting their Pangolin conservation in progress and sculptures in the making.

Besides the School of the Arts, the Green Club also demonstrated a magnificent way of recycling plastic bottles into flower pots. Furthermore, promoting the development of Kampong quotient and mentioning of Surabaya service-learning trip which took place a few years ago.

Minister Ng Eng Hen graced the occasion that day. Not only did he take his time off to look at the various presentations we prepared, he also planted a tree outside the NIE's Students' Hub.

If I am not wrong, they are going to measure how much the tree have grown in terms of height and volume, in a decade's time. Personally, I have learnt alot from this event, specifically on how to help save the environment.

Prof Vilma, from the NIE and Mr. Jabbar, were a great help that day. Mr. Jabbar taught me how to use this simple device (made out of a protractor, plumb line and a straw put together) to obtain a rough measure of the volume, and height of a tree.

In the Students' Hub itself, I spotted a peculiar machine right beside my booth. Then I realised it is a machine that recycle plastic bottles! And for every plastic bottle recycled, you will be rewarded with stickers. Once you accumulated a certain amount of stickers, you can redeem prizes like an eco-friendly bag.

It was definitely a rare experience, down at NIE, and I have no doubt enjoyed myself there. Knowing how each and every little thing you do might affect the environment, and ways to help conserving the nature is very crucial, especially now, when parts of the world are facing serious global warming cases.

I really do hope everyone will do their part in saving Earth. Such small acts like turning off the air-con when it is not in use and reducing the usage of disposable chopsticks can help save the environment. We should start to realise the effects done to the environment, and start turning back, before it is all too late.

And this is the reply from Prof Vilam

Hi Zuraidah, Jabbar & Green Club, students from Mayflower and SOTA,

What a great showcase of eco-living and green activities! I was very impressed with the layout of exhibits and displays, games and information sharing at today’s Green Day at the Student Hub of NIE. I am very proud of you, Green Club! I am sure the Minister and my colleagues were impressed as well. Thanks for showcasing the meaningful activities the Green Club is doing—recycling plastic bottles into pots, measuring height and girth of trees and promoting the development of Kampung Quotient (Minister passed well, I understand). It was also great that you shared about your Surabaya Service-Learning trip which happened a few years ago.

Thanks very much to Mayflower Secondary School—girls, you did a wonderful job of promoting organic herbal insect repellent and selling Shoo! Mozzie… yaay! Many thanks for joining us today. I hope you enjoyed meeting the Minister and our colleagues. Many thanks, Frances!

SOTA students, Kheng Kin and Shihui—lovely posters documenting your pangolin conservation project in progress, and your sculptures in the making. Thanks for taking photos—we’d love to have them. I hope the students enjoyed meeting Minister and his entourage as well as interacting with our colleagues.

Herwanto and all clubs—many thanks for your unwavering support—for being there. Please thank the clubs for us.

Happy Green Day! Switch off those aircons when you can : ) And never ever use disposables… use the eco-stick : )

SEED of CHANGE

2010-02-17T11:48:00.003+08:00

This is an exhibition created by SGI and the Earth Charter Initiative and first shown at WSSD (the World Summit on Sustainable Development) held in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002.

Sixteen colorful panels give an introduction to sustainable development, the role of education and the Earth Charter as a set of values and principles for a sustainable living. Shown in 17 countries by 2006 and available in English, French, Italian, German, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic language versions.

The "Seeds of Change" exhibition is often held by local SGI groups in cooperation with other NGOs, schools or community groups.

Mayflower Secondary was honoured to be able to bring this exhibition to our school as part of the activity for Humanities Week 2010.

The students have time to discuses issues like sustainable development, deforestation and climate change.

A group of students collected reflection from other students after they have visited the exhibition.

Students writing down their reflection about their views on how they can help to save the earth

2010-02-06T16:28:00.035+08:00

The Youth Environmental Guardians (YEG) has established a good partnership with Cicada Tree Eco Place (CTEP), an NGO since 2008. For more information about this exciting NGO please go to their website http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

The YEGs were at the Environmental Education Advisor (EEA) Networking Session at Nanyang Girl's High School organized by the NEA on 6th February 2010 to promote the Shoo Mozzie which was developed by CTEPand produced by Mayflower Secondary School.

Our Sec 1 YEGs from 1E posing for the camera

The Guest of Honour was Mr Tan Wee Hock,Director 3P Network Division, National Environment Agency.

Yes the Shoo Mozzie really work.

YEGs sharing with the teachers about their work in saving the environment.

The YEG also spoke about Chek Jewa and shared their concern about protection it as a nature park.

There's a place in the sun where there's room for everyone...

2010-02-01T06:16:00.002+08:00

Where is this place?

Can it be found in Singapore?

How do I go there?

A group of Mayflower Secondary School students visited this place last year.

Do visit this website to see what they were up to.
http://sites.google.com/a/mayflowersec.edu.sg/mayflower-chek-jawa/it-s-a-mangrove-world/mangroves-at-chek-jawa

Meanwhile, another group discovered this beautiful place last Saturday.
For more information about their trip please go to this website
http://sites.google.com/a/mayflowersec.edu.sg/mayflower-sungeibuloh/home

If you like a walk in the park or find a place in the sun,you may like to check out the following two Living Earth Walks organized by Cicada Tree Eco Place.

LIVING EARTH WALKS

Chek Jawa Intertidal Walk

On days when the tide recedes to 0.5m and below for at least two hours, the intertidal flats are revealed. The fascinating animals that can be seen close up include sea stars, sea cucumbers, sand dollars, octopuses, anemones, corals, crabs and many more. Besides these, the beauty of Chek Jawa is that there are six different ecosystems in that small area. Come and discover and learn more about the diverse array of animals that inhabit these unique habitats with Uncle Joe and National Parks Board guides.

(We have booked this limited guided tour conducted by National Parks Board and there will be extra charges for this walk.)

Date:

Monday, 29 March 2010, 3.00 pm

DURATION: 3 hrs.

Trails: Wooden boardwalk. Earth paths, some parts with gentle slopes. Sandbar. Footwear that cover the entire feet are recommended.

Walk fee: $25 per person (adult or child), minimum 6 years of age, excluding the bumboat ride and mini-bus ride to Chek Jawa. The bumboat ride is $2.50 per person one way. The mini-bus ride is $4 return per person to and from the main village. Minimum 15 pax for walk to go ahead.

LIVING EARTH WALKS

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

This wetland reserve is now a resting and feeding spot for migratory birds. But it also hosts a fantastic diversity of native fauna and flora. In the past, the area had several kampongs (villages) with the locals tending to vegetable and fruit tree plots. Many of these fruit trees and traditional herbs still survive and may be encountered along the trails. The people also constructed fish and prawn ponds in the mangroves. These are now used by the birds.

Date:

Monday, 15 March 2010, 4.00 pm

DURATION: 2 hrs.

Trails: Level dirt paths and boardwalks suitable for children, the elderly, disabled or participants using wheelchairs.

Walk fee: $13 per person (adult or child), excluding park entrance fees.

Minimum 20 pax for walk to go ahead. Minimum age of 6 years.

Park entrance fee is $1.00 for adults, 50 cents for children.

Advance registration & payment is required.

Registration:

Email Celine Low at contact@cicadatree.org.sg

For more information on Living Earth Walks, please visit our website: www.cicadatree.org.sg

Asia Humanitarian Forum

2010-01-15T16:33:00.024+08:00

On Friday and Saturday, 15-16 Jan 2010, a group of YEGs participated in the Asia Humanitarian Forum(AHF) held at the National Library. "Organised as a public educational platform to promote humanitarian and environmental causes to the masses" (www. asiahumanitarianforum.org), the YEGs were very excited to be part of this inaugural AHF which featured film screenings, green activities, talks and exhibitions by many organisations and NGOs.

As summised by the organiser of this event, "

Many in the world are apathetic and dispassioned about humanitarian and environmental needs beyond their comfort zones. The AHF hopes to fill this social gap. Through talks, workshops, and exhibitions, it aims to reach out to the masses with the urgent message that we are all called to be stewards of Planet Earth and that we need to look out for and attend to fellow world citizens who are suffering from conflict and living in poverty, without social justice, and with little or no access to medical aid. "

For more information, do visit their website at http://www.asiahumanitarianforum.org/

The YEGs also collaborated with Cicada Tree Ecoplace and proudly displayed two photo exhibitions! The first was to share with visitors eco-living and how everyone can practise "green habits" right at their own home!

The second, was to educate the public of the beauty of Chek Jawa by introducing its rich ecology and habitat. They were inspired by Mr Joseph Lai, a member of Cicada Tree Ecoplace who shared this knowledge with them during their fieldtrip to Chek Jawa last year. The YEGs also took great pains to highlight the on-going tussle between the rising call to defend this special wetland and the pressing need of land for development to contain Singapore's rapidly increasing population.

The seniors also patiently coached and practised oral communication skills with their juniors, giving them immense courage to approach members of the public with copies of the "Chek Jawa Chronicles" (painstakingly written by pure geography students) and bottles of Shoo Mozzie.

They creatively transformed themselves into "walking advertisements!"

New members of the Youth Environmental Guardians. They are young, excited and full of spirit.

They confidently approached members of the public and gamely shared the "Chek Jawa Chronicles" with them.

For more information about Chek Jewa please go to this website
http://sites.google.com/a/mayflowersec.edu.sg/mayflower-chek-jawa/
A soft copy of the "Chek Jawa Chronicles" is also downloadable from the website.

For more information about Cicada Tree Eco Palce please go to this website
http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/

The YEGs will also like to specially thank Auntie Sylvian for accompanying them to the National Library as well as giving them tips on how best they can decorate the booth! Thank you Auntie Sylvian!

NEA Community Day

2010-01-15T12:29:00.002+08:00

The National Environment Agency (NEA) stepped up its community engagement efforts by opening its premises to the public for the first time at its inaugural NEA Community Day on the 9th and 10th of January. 2010

This year, the NEA’s Community Day was hosted at the agency’s North East Regional Office (NERO) on 9 and 10 January, making it the first time an NEA regional office is opened to the public.

Through interesting exhibits, displays and interactions with NEA officers, members of the public received a first-hand briefing on the various activities undertaken by NEA and how they can help NEA sustain Singapore’s clean and green environment.

The YEGs were there to give a helping hand.

Loic, one of our YEG speaking to the public.

YEG Orchard Garden

2009-12-18T13:48:00.007+08:00

It has been an eventful year for the YEGs. Aftre selling the Shoo Mozzie at various events in 2009, they have managed to raise enough funds to plants beautiful orchards around Mayflower Secondary School.

The YEG first identified areas around the school where orchards can be planted.

One area was near the classroom block.

Another area was outside the school.

The YEG is so happy that more students can now enjoy the beauty of orchards.

The YEG is grateful to Mr Han our Operation Manager for helping to source for areas to plant the orchards and Ms Faridah for working so hard to select the orchards.

2009-12-06T07:05:00.020+08:00

The YEGs were at the Central Singapore Clean and Green Carnival 2009 on Saturday 5th Dec 2009 at City Square Mall.

They were there to teach the public on how to make natural mosquito repellents.

We first explained that lemon grass, which is a common herb that can be found in our kitchen, is an effective and safe natural mosquito repellent.

This is how it is created.

First you have to kill all the germs on your hand with the germs killer.

Do the same with the container that will be used to hold the insect repellent.

Next combined the essential oil (two drops of lemon grass and four drops of Citronellan oil) with 180 mg of goat milk cream. And there you have it.

Safe and simple with no preservatives or DEET (which is a common ingredient that is found in many commercial mosquito insect repellent)

The YEG had the opportunity to share with our Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Wong Kan Sing and the Mayor for Central Singapore DistrictZainudin Nordin about our product.

It was an enjoyable experience and an enriching exercise to spend the weekend at the Clean and Green Carnival.

PS.
Alina, one of our pioneer YEG being featured in one of the exhibition booth.

She has just completed her A level. Each year, she is there to provide support and guidance for the YEG.

Eugene, another pioneer form the same batch of YEG was also there to help out.

For more information please go to this website
http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/ecoproducts_shoo.html

The Marina Barrage

2009-06-23T10:35:00.006+08:00

Built across the mouth of the Marina Channel, the Marina Barrage creates Singapore’s 15th reservoir, and the first in the heart of the city.

With a catchment area of 10,000 hectares, or one-sixth the size of Singapore, the Marina catchment is the island’s largest and most urbanised catchment.

Together with two other new reservoirs, the Marina Reservoir will boost Singapore’s water catchment from half to two-third’s of the country’s land area.

The Marina Barrage is the result of Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s vision nearly two decades ago when he envisaged damming the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir.

Please visit this website for more information
http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/Pages/default.aspx

Our Waters Programme

2009-06-22T09:02:00.035+08:00

PUB’s Our Waters programme aims to nurture a sense of ownership and encourage Singaporeans to be guardians of our water.

On 21st July 2009, PUB welcomed Mayflower Secondary School as a partner of Our Waters Programme.

We will work together to take care of the waters of Marina Reservoir.

The Our Waters programme seeks to encourage groups from the 3P sectors of the community:

People (schools, grassroots organizations, town councils and non-government organizations)
Private (corporations)
Public (government organizations)

This is the report from Channel NewAsia

On Sunday, students from Singapore Polytechnic and 21 secondary schools signalled their commitment by adopting the Marina Reservoir.

Mayor for North West CDC, Dr Teo Ho Pin — a champion of water safety in Singapore — was also at the event.

Since its opening last year, the Marina Barrage and Reservoir has played host to many activities and attracted more than 400,000 visitors.

So as part of the two—year adoption programme, students aged 13 to 17 will conduct water—quality testing and clean—up activities at the reservoir.

They will also be volunteer guides at the Sustainable Singapore Gallery.

Channel NewsAsia - Monday, June 22

The YEGs were at the Marina Barrage on Sunday to start the ball rolling. Together with Cicada Tree Eco Place, we put up an exhibition on Eco Living in Singapore.

They were also there to promote Shoo Mozzie, the all natural 100% organic insect repellent.

By encouraging Singaporean to use natural ingredient, we have started the process of encourage Singaporean to use less chemical and more natural product.

For example, when we start to use eco-friendly, insect repellent, soaps and detergents, we are using products that are free from phosphates or petrochemicals.

Dr Teo Ho Pin the Guest of Honour at the Singapore International Water Festivals was presented with a bottle of the Shoo Mozzie.

Mrs Lim, our principal were also there to show her support for the YEGs.

Later on, a group of our students who were taking part in the dragon boat race visited our booth.

Our Choir also performed at the event.

Our dragon boat team putting their heart and soul into the race.

Singapore International Water Festival (SIWF)

2009-06-11T21:53:00.020+08:00

This is a roving exhibition for schools.This attractive and comprehensive poster exhibition seeks to impart important information on eco-living, carbon footprint and how to make a difference!
This exhibition contains simple and practical green tips for daily eco-living, written in easy-to-read text with attractive native wildlife pictures.

The location of the education booths is at the Courtyard Central, in front of pump room, beside the staircase to the 2nd level facing the Information Centre of the Barrage. (along the stretch where the people are standing in the picture). The booths will be directly visible from the main entrance.

The YEG will also be selling Shoo! Mozzie, badges from Cicada Tree Eco Place, recycled bags and diary made from recycled paper.

Here are some places where the reving exhibition has been too.

A vision of Hope --- Jane Goodall Symposium at the Singapore American School
Envirofest 2009 at the Toa Payoh HDB Hub

The Making of Shoo! Mozzie

2009-06-08T13:55:00.021+08:00

The making of Shoo! Mozzie.

During the school holidays, a group of YEGs came back to make a new batch of Shoo Mozzie.

These are the ingredients for the Shoo! Mozzzie. Aloe Vera Gel, essential oils of lemon grass and citronella.

Lemongrass and citronella are natural insect repellents and have been a traditional remedy against mosquito attacks for many years since before the appearance of DDT and other modern insecticides.

YEGs bottling the Shoo! Mozzie.

Putting on the stickers.
Shoo! Mozzie comes in a handy 30 ml glass amber bottle as glass is more environmentally friendly than plastic

The coloured glass keeps out UV rays which damage the contents. Store shoo! Mozzie in a cool, dark place to prolong shelf life.

The funds we raised from the sale of Shoo Mozzie will be donated to Cicada Tree Eco Place for them to conduct educational programmes for the public.

We thank Mr Jacob Lai from skinplus.com.sg
who has kindly sponsored an additional one bottles of Shoo! Mozzie.

Green Generation Concert

2009-06-07T11:07:00.017+08:00

A group of YEGs, NCC cadet and Scouts form Mayflower Secondary School were helping out at the Green Generation Concert held on 5th June 2009 at the Singapore Botanic Garden.

They were working in partnership with the Group Endevours Service Learning Group, a group of teachers from the National Institute of Education. Here, they were giving instructions to our students.

Our students waiting to start work.

The palce where the concert was held.

After the event, our students were on hand to clear the rubbish.

All for one and one for all.

Students waiting for the concert to start.

Thanks to Mrs Evelyn Ng and Ms Kamali who were there with the students.

Appreciation to Mr. Gana Mr. Edwin Ho and Ms Faridah who helped to recruit the students from Scout, NCC and the YEGs.

A vision of Hope

2009-06-06T17:37:00.002+08:00

A Vision of Hope

2009-06-06T16:17:00.012+08:00

On a bright sunny Saturday, four YEGs and two teachers attended the Jane Goodall Symposium entitled A Vision for Hope.

The YEG took this opportunity to share with the participants on the possibility of using natural herbs found in the kitchen as insect repellent.

They also explain the need to take action to save the Leopard Cat. Here a YEG is putting on the mask which has been designed to promote the understanding of Leopard Cat.

The YEGs who took part in this symposium were (from left) Tracy, Wai Teng , Marcus and Kai Shan.

Dr Jane Goodall visited our exhibition booth. Kai Shan too this opportunity to explain to her about the Shoo Mozzie that were developed by Cicada Tree Eco Place. Ka Shan also presented her with a bottle of Shoo Mozzie.

Marcus also spoke to her about Cicada Tree effort to promote eco living.

The YEG is looking forward to more opportunity to promote eco-living.

They are also inspired by Dr Jane Goodall to start a Root and Shoot in Mayflower Secondary School.

Reflection Questions for YEGs.
1.Why do you think it is important to promote the eco-living?

2. Do you think your effort is worth it?

3. Is there a better way to promote eco-living?

2009-06-05T00:06:00.005+08:00

"And I want to particularly say this

to young people

of every faith,

in every country -

you, more than anyone,

have the ability to remake this world."

President Obama's Speech
3rd June 2009.

If not now, when?

We know we are very young,

But if we take that first step,

Change has began.

Mayflower Youth Environmental Guardians have been reaching out to all
Sharing with everyone the need to go green.

In our own small ways,
we too believe that we have the ability to remake this world.

2009-06-02T00:31:00.006+08:00

Mayflower Yegs will be at the above symposium. Look out for us as we share about our all natural insect repellent Shoo Mozzie that was developed by Cicada Tree Eco Place.

(Artwork done pro bono by Ridjal Noor from http://www.refreshink.com/ Thank you Ridjal.)

It costs $5 a bottle and all the money collected will go toward the educational activities of Cicada Tree Ecoplace.

In addition look our for simple, digestible information on why we need to protect the Leopard Cat and the Slow Loris.

Come and visit our booth and we can barter. We can offer beautiful designs of a slow loris and a leopard cat. For more information , look at the two posts below.

Singapore Last Wild Cat Species.

2009-05-30T23:59:00.006+08:00

One of the activity that Cicada Tree EcoPlace does is to leads children on nature walks, teaching them about the various species in the animal and insect world as well as discussions on the native plants. In this way, the children lose their fear and gain knowledge of the environment. And with knowledge of subjects, most often time comes respect of those subjects.

Inspired by Cicada Tree, the YEGs of Mayflower decided to learn more about the Leopard Cat from Cicada Tree so that they can also help to promote the conservation of Singapore Last Wild Cat Species.

We started in a small way at the Envirofest 2009. We used the mask that was designed by Cicada Tree Eco Place to introduce children about the Leopard Cat.

Here are some interesting information about the Leopard Cat.

Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Youth Symposium - A Vision For Hope

2009-05-28T19:47:00.010+08:00

The Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Youth Symposium - A Vision For Hope will be held on 6th June 2009
This Symosium will provide an opportunity for 250 14–20 year-olds to meet other Roots & Shoots groups and work together to create a vision that will truly make a difference.

Events include a Green Generation Concert at the Singapore Botanical garden on the 5th of June and a Youth Symposium on the 6th of June.

Read more for details.

For more information please go to this website:

http://jgisyouthsymposium.ning.com/

For more information please go to this website

http://www.greengeneration09.com/home.html

Envirofest 2009.

2009-05-24T13:44:00.022+08:00

Envirofest 2009

The YEG were at the Toa Payoh Hub from 23rd to the 24th May to take part in the Envirofest 2009 in partnership with Cicada Tree Eco Place.

Ms Faridah with some of the students before the start of the event.

A YEG explaining to the public about the need for eco living.

You can go to the Cicada Tree Eco Place website to view these poster again or other posters which includes eco@home, eco@school and eco@work and play.

http://www.cicadatree.org.sg/ecolivingnow_what.html

Tracy, one of our more experience YEG training a new YEG on how to promote Shoo Mozzie, an all natural insect repellent that was developed by Cicada Tree Eco Place.

One for the camera before the new YEG start her environment work.

One of the activity that the YEG promoted was to generate an awareness about the leopard cat.

Children were given a picture of the leopard cat to colour.

Full concentration required.

One of the YEG helping to make the mask for the leopard cat.

Showing the mask with pride.

The final product.

According to Prof Vilma :

"It’s important to protect the leopard cat as it’s the last wild cat species we have in S’pore. It’s rare in S’pore and hard to spot as it’s found mainly on an offshore island. On the mainland, its numbers are very small. Hence it’s an endangered species in S’pore. "

More about this animal can be found at http://lazy-lizard-tales.blogspot.com/2009/03/civet-cats-on-tanglin-halt-tree-look.html

Reflection Questions for YEGs.

1. What did you learnt from taking part in this event?

2. Do you think you have been successful in promoting eco-living to the public?

3. What else can we do to promote eco living?

Environment Champions Badge.

2009-04-24T17:07:00.006+08:00

In 2008, 6 Youth Environmental Guardians (YEGs) were awarded the Gold for the Environment Champions Badge. This year, 18 YEGs were awarded the God badge.

The EC Badge rewards ECs who are actively involved in environmental activities and have been keeping environmental issues alive in their school and local community.

Aside from delivering environmental talks and presentations to their school-mates, these ECs also work closely with their teacher-mentors, or Environmental Educational Advisors (EEAs), to spearhead environmental initiatives for their school.

This is an on-going effort and by no means, a smooth-sailing one, on top of an already challenging academic curriculum. Hence, to reward the efforts and outcomes of these deserving ECs and inspire them to new and better achievements, NEA launches the 'Environment Champions Badge'.

The highest level of recognition is for an EC whose concern for the environment takes him beyond the confines of the school and seeks to inspire the larger community to assume personal responsibility for the environment. He would be awarded a gold badge.

Here are a sampleof the activities that these YEGs have done in 2008 to earn the Gold badges.

Yonng Qing working together with the MP of Yeo Chu Kang to keep Ang Mo Kio clean.

Win, Jian Hao and Rui Xian as presenters at the 4th Central Singapore District Public Health Forum

Performing for the Ang Mo Kio resident at Project Clean

Two of our YEGs Jian Hao and Srisakvarakul Chaiyakorn, involved in the video filming for Chikungunya Highlight on the 26 June 2008, Thursday at 2.30pm (Little India) & 27 June 2008, Friday at 1.15pm (Environment Health Institute).

School's Green Audit Award ORCHID

2009-04-24T16:28:00.009+08:00

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) gives out awards to school that participate in its “How Green is Your School” programme. Mayflower Secondary has been participating in this programme since 2007.

The programme hopes to highlight that as an individual, and collectively as a group, we are able to make a difference to our environment.

In 2007, we received the Hibiscus Award. In 2008 we have improved and received the next level of award which is the Orchid Award.

This award is given to school which has satisfactorily complete at least 90% of the total Audit questions as well as showing a high-level of environmental concern.

This year, Ophelia Sek of Sec 3I represented our school to received the award.

We are looking forward to continue to play our part in protecting the environment. Although we do not go for reward nor award, we are glad when our effort is recognised.

Recycling Project: Collection of Newspaper

2009-03-28T09:01:00.000+08:00

A group of Sec 5 students embarked on a newspaper collection project on the 27th March 2009.

They collected newspaper from the residents of Ang Mo Kio town as part of the Recycling Outreach Project.

The Recycling Outreach Programme is a community involvement programme (CIP) by the National Environment Agency (NEA).

The programme aims to involve schools to reach out not only to their school community but also their neighbouring residents.

This programme aim to encourage environmental action and awareness towards minimizing waste and recycling.

One final picture for the road...

National Youth Business Challenge

2009-03-24T10:58:00.011+08:00

The YEGs took part in the National Youth Business Challenge on the 22nd March. This event took place on a Sunday at Compasspoint.

This is the team, Flower Power which took part in the competition. Their teacher advisor is Mrs Audrey Koh.

The YEGs took the opportunity to educate the public on the need to recycle, reuse and reduce through the distribution of posters on recycling that were obtained from NEA.

Through this method, the public learnt about the importance of the 3Rs in our life.

A group of Sec 2 YEGs were there to provide support for the team. They were from class 2A. Thank you Jordan, Sheng Jie, Yoo Chen, Brendan, Ji Kang, Jiaqing, Kee Pin , Naomi and Jia Xin for sacrificing your holiday to help.

Ophelia gave a great presentation to the judges.

The judges were impressed with the public speaking skills of Marcus. The team won the most enthusiastic award for this competition.

Because our main aim was not to win the competition but to educate the public about eco living, we took this opportunity to raise funds for ACRES too. Here Jia Xin found a great way to promote the ACRES badges

Naomi bagging one of the badge with recycled paper bags that the Enterprise Club made for this event.

YEGs promoting the benefit of using the Shoo Mozzie.

Using posters obtained from N.E.A. to decorate our stall at teh same time promoting eco-living.

These are the bags made by the Enterprise Club.

Pen made from recycled paper.

Badges promoting ACRES's mission.

Students from the Enterprise Club supporting the YEGs by packaging our goods with recycled materials.

"Hmm... what happen if the world used recycled paper bags?"

The ess as part of the display for the Shoo Mozzie?

Reflection question: Seeing the BIG PICTURE.

1. One of the mission of the YEG is "No Reward, No Award. No CCA points, No CIP hours." Since you do not get any reward for doing YEG work, why do you still continue to work for the environment?

2. Which do you think is more important, winning the competition or educating the public on the need to save the environment?

3. Describe one lesson you have learnt by participating in this event.

Nationla Youth Business Challenge

2009-03-24T10:56:00.001+08:00

2nd Internatioal Conference on Character Development

2009-03-19T10:52:00.001+08:00

A group of YEGs attended the 2nd International Conference on Character Development through Service and Experiential Learning.

This conference took place from 17 to 18th March 2009 at the National Institute of Education.

The YEGs also put up an exhibition panel at the "Youth Voice in Service Learning."

The exhibition panel that was put up.

This poster shows the work of the YEGs.

This poster shows our students using the CARE values for Service Learning.

This poster shows how reflection and learning are infused into the services component.

Students getting ready for the exhibition.

Mdm Feridah training the YEGs to speak to the public.

Our YEGS getting ready to promote the message of eco-living through the Sale of Shoo Mozzie.

One of our YEGs, Marcus speaking to a teacher about Shoo Mozzie.

A happy customer is a satisfied customer.

"Can you tell me what is so good about the Shoo Mozzie?"

The YEGs aslo found time to learn from other schools.

Reflection Questions for YEGs whho has taken part in this event. Please answer at least one question.

1. How did the school CARE value prepare you for this event?

2. How did your effort contribute to saving the environment?

3. How did you overcome your fear of speaking to stranger?

4. Why did you volunter for this programme?

5. What lesson did you learn about saving the environment?

Central Singapore Youth Environmental Guardians

2009-03-17T01:52:00.013+08:00

Central Singapore Youth Environmental Guardians is jointly organised by Central Singapore Community Development Council (CS CDC) and the National Environment Agency - Central Regional Office (NEA CRO).

2 The programme aims to cultivate our youths to be champions of environmental public health issues by offering a volunteering avenue that allows them to learn, share, network and contribute to the creation of a clean and green Central Singapore district.

3 There are two focus areas in the programme that seeks to groom and engage the youth volunteers - Learning & Sharing and Contributing to a Clean & Green Central Singapore district.

The Programme

I. Learning and Sharing
This segment of the programme aims to increase awareness of issues relating to public health through:

• Training workshop
The students will undergo a training session to equip them with background knowledge on public health issues such as littering, dengue, pests, climate change & recycling.

• Forum
A Forum will be scheduled after the training workshop. The YEGs will need to or present a summary report on their community engagement experiences to share with the other school’s YEGs. Briefly, the report would include:
a) Topic of their project(s)

b) Community partners they partnered with
c) Outreach efforts - numbers of households engaged, key messages that were passed on to the community etc
d) Learning points - what have they learnt during the community engagement process

The YEGs from Mayflower Secondary School went for the training on the 6th of March at the Singapore Science Center.

The YEGs waiting eagerly for the training session to start.

The students found the training insightful and interesting.

Students conducting an experiment.

After the indoor lesson, the students proceed to the outdoor lesson.

The students found the pond teaming with life.

Training for the NYBC

2009-03-07T09:58:00.033+08:00

To be effective environmentalist needs training. When the YEGs set up road shows to raise funds for our partner NGOs like Cicada Tree Eco Place and ACRES, being trained in running a business will be useful. With this in mind, the YEGs took part in the National Youth Business Challenge

One team of YEGs from Mayflower Secondary School entered the final of the (NYBC).

According to the it's website (http://www.nybc-sg.com/index.html) the National Youth Business Challenge (NYBC) is an annual outreach programme organized by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, School of Business & Accountancy.

It seeks to offer meaningful and enriching learning experience for secondary school students through hands on learning. Experiential learning emphasizes on practical application of theory in a realistic setting with the macro and micro forces coming into play. This educational model will encourage learning self-sufficiency as well as allow for genuine learning through reflection on experience.

This year in collaboration with Freaser & Neave, the theme is set to be environmental friendly. As such, student teams will be taught essential practical business skills and knowledge to set up earth friendly businesses.

In line with the Ministry of Education’s thrust to foster awareness of the importance of earth friendly businesses, the School of Business and Accountancy, Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Compass Point Shopping Centre are jointly organizing a competition to harness the energies of the youth to generate earth friendly business concepts and ideas.

To provide realistic hands-on learning, student teams in the finals will have the opportunity to market their earth business for 2 days, over the weekend in the Compass Point Shopping Centre in Sengkang.

Topics will include: - Marketing- Retails Management- Entrepreneurship- Customer Service- Operation- Human Resource The final part of NYBC will see student teams marketing their business in the real world, Compass point on 21st and 22nd March 2009. It will be accompanied by performances, quiz and competitions.

Our CEO Marcus Quek and CFO Jeremiah Chan.

Our retail executives.

Our treasurer with one of our Borad of Director Mrs Koh.

Our CEO and CIF refining the business plan during the workshop.

The YEGs will be setting up the shop on 22nd March, Sunday at Compass Point from 11 a.m. to 9 a.m. Do come down and support us. We will be rasing funds fro Cicada Tree Eco Place and Acres as well as educating the public on how to use natural herbs found in the kitchen as insect repellent.

2009-02-14T14:46:00.008+08:00

To celebrate Valentine Day in Mayflower, the YEGs decided to sell Love pack that they obtained from Cicada Tree Eco Place. The fund raised will contribute to the activities that CTEP conducts to promote eco-living. This love pack is different from other commercial gifts as it helps to educate the public on the need to protect the environment.

Cicada Tree Eco-Place Love Earth Gift Pack
Eco-Contents:
1)Shoo! Mozzie — A glass bottle of herbal mosquito repellant made of fragrant essential oil of Citronella in Aloe vera gel.

All ingredients are organically grown and produced.

2)A pressed leaf bookmark from native trees, with natural Jute fibre tassel. Look & feel the fantastic venation as you read!

3)Aromatic posy of Cinnamon bark, Bay leaf, Star Anise &/or Rosemary. To place in your cupboard or office drawer.

4)Eco-packaging: Natural Jute fibre cloth, ribbon of Raffia reed plant & unbleached corrugated cardboard backing.

5)Cicada Tree wildlife education leaflet, printed on 100% recycled paper.

This contents label is printed on reused paper. Plastic is harmful to Earth & we have tried to minimise its use.

This gift has been hand-packed with love & gratitude for the natural riches of our only home Planet Earth!

The colour pencils are made from recycle newspaper and so do not contain lead.

Mdm Faridah, our resident interior decorator cum florist, helped to ensure that the products were presented with taste and style.

Mrs. Audrey Koh brained-stormed with Mdm Faridah on the best sale strategy that the students can use to promote eco-living.

The students carried the basket around persuading the teachers to buy eco-friendly products that will not harm the environment.

It was a wonderful feeling to be able to make a sale.

Sir, this gift will sure to make your valentine happy.

The sale team with Mrs Audrey Koh. They managed to sell 16 box of colour pencils and 5 love packs. Altogether we managed to raise $210 for Cicada Tree Eco Place.

EEA Networking Session on the 7th February.

2009-02-07T14:40:00.029+08:00

A new group of YEGs were at the Environmental Educator Advisor (EEA) Networking session on the 7th of February from 8.00 a.m. to 11.30 a.m.

They were inspired to promote environmental awareness after Mdm Faridah had spoken to them.

The event was held at Nanyang Girl's School.

To promote eco-living, banana leaves were used as table cloth instead of plastic tablecloth.

Marcus, a senior YEG, was on hand to train the Sec 1 students on how to promote eco-living.

Students were selling the Shoo Mozzie to encourage the use of organic insect repellent instead of the one sold in stalls which contain DEET.

The training paid off. They could explain to the teachers who were attending the session about the benefit of using the Shoo Mozzie.

The students also explained the other programmes that Cicada Tree Eco Place(CTEP) has to promote eco-living.

Prof Vilma one of the founder of Cicada Tree Eco Place were also there to explain to the teachers about the programmes that CTEP offered.

The event offered the students a platform to practise their oral communication skills. They persuaded the teachers about the benefit of using Shoo Mozzie.

The students were so happy when they could convinced the teachers.

One of our alumni Vanessa who is studying in the JC now, also came down to lend support to the new YEG.

In the end, the YEGs managed to sell eighty bottles of Shoo Mozzie.

Meanwhile, Mdm Farida was attending the Networking session where she met other EEAs.

During the networking session, the NEA presented the Sustained Achievement Award to Mayflower Secondary School for the Recycling Outreach Programme.

A final photo before the YEGs leave the networking sessions.

Reflection questions for the YEGs.

1. How did you feel after this activity?

2. What lesson did you learn?

3.What suggestions can you provide to make the event better?

Please post your answer.DO remember to leave your name and class.
Thank you.

This is the response from Prof Vilma.

February 7, 2009 9:04 pm
Dear Frances,
Wow! that was fast! The blog is great.
Congrats on a great day!

It was great to see you YEGs in action, promoting shoo mozzie, selling it, selling our buttons and selling our programs!

I was amazed at their energy. It was also great to see the seniors induct the juniors.

Thanks to Marcus and Vanessa. Thanks again to the students for selling our buttons... I banked in $60 to our ctep fund today because your students did such a good job!

ctep appreciates this partnership and we'd like to continue to work with mayflower this year.

Btw, your students are also called OOH volunteers--Our Only Home volunteers :)
Yes, we will put your blogsite on our upcoming website as a hot blog.

Thanks again
Vilma

Note from the Ess : So now we can also call ourselves OOH. We will try to find opportunities to work with ctep.
Look out for more updates

YEG at the EEA Networking Session

2009-02-07T14:29:00.002+08:00

Eco-Outreach in School

2009-01-09T16:27:00.011+08:00

Mayflower Secondary is honoured to continue the partnership with Cicada Tree Eco Place (CTEP) in 2009.

The first event that was held in partnership was CTEP was the Eco-Outreach held on 9th January 2009, during the CCA exhibition for the Secondary One Orientation.

Cicada Tree Eco Place set up two exhibitions to share with the students and parents about Eco-living in school and at home.

These were the familiar YEGs who has helped to promote Shoo Mozzie since 2008 at the Singapore Garden Festival.

Being in the YEGs allow our students to have opportunities to practise their salesmanship skills.

A new group of YEGs set up the exhibition at about 12.30 p.m.

The container that is used to hold the lemon grass is made of cane and is recycleable.

Banana leaf was used as table cloth instead of the normal plastic one to demonstrate that it is possible to be organic when a little more effort is put in.

The new group of YEGs explaining the merit of using organic insect repellent.

The YEG will be promoting the Love Earth Gift Pack on Valentine's Day.

Cicada Tree Eco-Place Love Earth Gift Pack

Eco-Contents:

1)Shoo! Mozzie — A glass bottle of herbal mosquito repellant made of fragrant essential oil of Citronella in Aloe vera gel.

All ingredients are organically grown and produced.

2)A pressed leaf bookmark from native trees, with natural Jute fibre tassel. Look & feel the fantastic venation as you read!

3)Aromatic posy of Cinnamon bark, Bay leaf, Star Anise &/or Rosemary. To place in your cupboard or office drawer.

4)Eco-packaging: Natural Jute fibre cloth, ribbon of Raffia reed plant & unbleached corrugated cardboard backing.

5)Cicada Tree wildlife education leaflet, printed on 100% recycled paper.

This contents label is printed on reused paper. Plastic is harmful to Earth & we have tried to minimise its use.

This gift has been hand-packed with love & gratitude for the natural riches of our only home Planet Earth!

Every cent from its sale goes to Cicada Tree Eco-Place Wildlife Education programs.

Clean and Green 2008

2008-12-02T12:34:00.003+08:00

2008-11-23T21:00:00.021+08:00

The YEGs were at the Clean And Green 2008 at the Toa Payoh HUB from 22 Nov to 23 Nov 2008.

Eugene and Fang Qi describing the ingredients that are found in Shoo Mozzie.

Kenneth, a memeber of the Mayflower Alumni and Jian Hao were also on stage conducting the game show.

Meanwhile, Rui Siang was busy explaining to a member of the public about the Green Bus.

Marcus was busy conducting a game.

The YEG of 2007 were out in full force on Sunday to promote the Shoo Mozzie.

When Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Minister of Education visited the Shoo Mozzie booth, he was interested in how we can use natural ingredients found in the kitchen as insect repellent.

Here Kenneth is explaining to him about the making of Shoo Mozzie.

Simon and Eugene explaining to the aunties about the Shoo Mozzie.

Jieying managed to capture this mother's attention.

HuYi using his charm to explain the project.

Wayne patiently explaining to this aunty about the use of garlic.

Alina eagerly explaining to these two girls the need to save the earth through the use of natural organic products.

JiaXin, ever ready to do her part to save the environment.

YangJie doing his best to speak in Hokkien to this aunty about Shoo Mozzie.

This is a special lady standing next to Mrs Ess. She grew up in Johore and she remembered how the Malays would use the lemon grass to rub all over their body to prevent mosquito from biting them.

Mrs Ess is glad that the grandmother's tale about how lemon grass is a natural insect repellent is confirmed by this grandmother who has twenty children.

Nature Insect Repellent

2008-11-20T20:41:00.000+08:00

Learning from a NGO called Journey to Forever, the YEGs@Mayflower decided to explore the possibility of using local herbs and plants as insect repellent

The reasons are

a. It is sustainable: made entirely from locally available renewable resources

b. It is empowering: processed entirely by the end-user as needed

c. It is eco-friendly: won't boil the planet or blow a hole in the sky.

PandanThe first plant we explored was the Pandan leave.

Did you know that Pandan leave is an effective repellent?

Two researchers from NTU did a research using Pandan Leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.) as a natural cockroach repellent.

It was observed that taxi drivers in Singapore and Malaysia kept bunches of pandan leaves (Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb.) in their taxis to ward off cockroaches.

Many families (including the Esshold) also use Pandan leaves as a natural cockroach repellent. In addition, it also makes the kitchen smell nice and clean.

For those who are interested, you may go to this website to see the researcher's report.

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/eee/urop/congress2003/Proceedings/abstract/NUS_FoS/TDP%20USP/Li%20Jingmei.pdf

Lemon Grass

Lemon grass contains citronella oil, a safe and natural insect repellent that's just as effective as the commercial chemical products, especially when it's fresh.

You can rub the long, grassy leaves on the skin, but the stalk worked even better. Take one stalk of fresh lemon grass and peel off the outer leaves, snap off the grass blades behind the swollen stem at the base.

Bend the stem between your fingers, loosening it, then rub it vigorously between your palms so that it fractures into a kind of fibrous juicy mass, and rub this mess over all exposed skin, covering thoroughly at least once. Pleasant on the skin and the effect lasts about 4-5 hours.

According to the CRC Ethnobotany Desk Reference by Tim Johnson, lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) is traditionally used in various parts of the world as an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, cyanogenetic, dentrifice, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue, expectorant, pectoral, preventative (cold), stimulant, sudorific, and tonic, used to treat common cold, consumption, cough, depurative, dyspepsia, elephantiasis, fever, flu, gingivitis, headache, hypertension, insecticide, leprosy, malaria, mouth sores, neuritis, pneumonia, pyorrhea, rheumatism, sprains, and toothache.

The Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Index at the Purdue Guide to Medicinal and Aromatic Plants has a lot of information on lemon grass, also listing it as an insect repellent and a medicinal plant, and says it's used in food and confections, in perfumes and cosmetics, soaps and creams, as a flavouring in soft drinks, and as a mask for industrial bad smells.

The information above is obtained from this blog:

http://journeytoforever.org/edu_homer.html

Turmeric
Turmeric (yellow powder or yellow ginger) can be found in most kitchen in Singapore.

Turmeric has been used for many conditions in traditional medicine in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Turmeric has been applied to insect stings and to alleviate itching.

There are many uses of turmeric and you can go to the website below to check out the information.
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/turmeric-000277.htm

Garlic

Garlic, a common staple found in kitchens in Singapore, has been considered a special food.

Garlic has a natural sulfur which repels insects, including mosquitoes, ticks and fleas. Spraying garlic concentrates as a mosquito repellent is not something new. Farmers and master gardeners have been doing it for many generations.

According to some website, mosquitoes are soft-bodied insects so the garlic juice can be very toxic to them in increased concentrations.

The juice does not harm humans or pets or plants, but to mosquitoes it can be deadly.

The odor of it chases them out of the area and they stay away - for as long as they can detect the odor. While the odor of sprayed garlic juice becomes undetectable to humans within minutes, the mosquitoes will still detect it.

Mosquitoes have a very heightened olfactory sense - as high as 10,000 times better than humans. They can detect the garlic extract for much longer periods of time and will stay away from the sprayed area of garlic juice for up to a month and more.

Nature's Remedy

2008-11-19T20:13:00.000+08:00

Why are organic products better?

2008-11-18T17:35:00.000+08:00

Besides health issues, there are certain big issues which make buying
organic products a more socially responsible and environmentally
friendly choice. These issues are mainly:

Climate Change & farming
Organic farming uses 50% less energy than conventional farming to produce the same amount of food or crops, thus reducing the amount of greenhouse gases produced. Poor land management adds to global warming.

Animal Welfare
Animals on organic farms are free ranging and have quality food; routine use of antibiotics and hormones is prevented and possible because they run a healthy and balanced system. Transport and slaughter of animals are also according to guidelines.

Wildlife
Organic farmers maintain trees, hedges, unfarmed field edges, which provide habitats for natural predators like beetles, spiders and birds which control pests. Since the introduction of pesticides into farming, farmland birds have declined by up to 95%, so organic farming supports a living countryside.

Genetic Modification

Genetic Modification (GM) food is already in the market, although no one knows what the long-term health implications of GM food will be. Once GM pollen is released into the environment, there is no way of recalling it or preventing it from contaminating other crops. Organic farming and food uses non-GM crops or products

Antibiotics
Most of the antibiotics used in the UK are given in food to farm animals to suppress the infectious diseases that arise with intensive farming and to act as artificial growth promoters. The residual antibiotics in the food we eat may have given rise to superbugs and antibiotic resistance. It can be fatal for those infected by antibiotic resistant bacteria and whose immunity is compromised. Drugs and antibiotics are not routinely used in organic farming.

Pesticides
150 of the commonly used pesticides are potentially cancer causing and some cannot be washed off. Organic farmers usually use natural predators or natural products like neem oil from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica) to control pests. Buying organic is a way of avoiding pesticides in your food or other products.

The above information can be found on the website of the Soil Association of UK. http://www.whyorganic.org/bigissues.asp

Why are natural perfumes better?

Pollution from making, using and disposing of fragrance chemicals is a serious environmental problem. The fragrance industry uses neurotoxic, carcinogenic and toxic waste chemicals derived from petroleum to make sweet smelling products that go into detergents, fabric softeners, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, cosmetics, air fresheners, scented candles etc.

They are not required to disclose these ingredients on the labels and the Material Safety Data Sheets for these chemicals contain warnings to avoid inhalation of vapours and skin exposure, yet they are in products you inhale and apply on your skin.

Like second hand smoke, synthetic fragrances permeate the environment and are absorbed by everyone surrounding you.

People with asthma or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) can suffer headaches, breathing problems, weakness, confusion, anxiety, panic attacks and other neurotoxic symptoms when they are exposed to synthetic fragrances.

MCS is acquired from chemical overloads, either from one big exposure or low-level exposure over many years.

The above information can be found on the following websites: http://www.tigerflag.com/why-choose-natural.html
http://www.mindfully.org/Pesticide/Fragrance-Product-Chemicals.htm

REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE

Return your used bottles of Cicada Tree Eco-Place natural products on your next order and get a 50¢ discount for each bottle returned.
Contact Celine Low @ email: leopardcat@pacific.net.sg or mobile no. 96932554.

Central Singapore O.N.E. Awards

2008-11-11T12:46:00.009+08:00

Mayflower Secondary School has been awarded the Central Singapore O.N.E. Platinum Awards, (Schools Category), for the qualifying period 1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008.2.

This award will be presented at the Central Singapore Clean & Green Carnival 2008 on the 22nd November 2008 Saturday (6.00pm – 7.30pm), at HDB Hub Mall, by the Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, Dr. Ng Eng Hen.

This is jointly presented by the Central Singapore Community Development Council and National Environment Agency, Central Regional Office.

This award aims to reach Out to the community, Nurture, educate and train them, and to Enable and empower them to put their heart into the earth.

The award was conceived to recognize, acknowledge and affirm the necessity to be pro-active in caring for the environment.

The following slides will provide a better understanding of the work that the YEG has to recieve this award.

Clean & Green Singapore Schools’ Carnival 2008

2008-11-11T11:25:00.011+08:00

Eleven YEGs from 1A and 1D were at the Clean & Green Singapore Schools’ Carnival 2008 on the 6th November. It was held at Suntec City.

The YEGs were helping the Cicada Tree Eco Place to create awareness on having a Clean and Green Environment in Singapore.

The YEGs explained to the primary school students how to play the game on Climate Change.

You are never too young to learn about climate change.

The YEGs also sold pictures of animals designed by Cicada Tree Eco Place. They help the young visitors to colour the painting.

Two of the finished paintings done with the help of the YEGs.

This is a thank you email from Cicada Tree Eco Place.

Faridah and Sherri, many thanks for spending half of your day with us on Thursday, tending our booth and supervising the kids. Your students did a great job in selling our drawings and buttons and in facilitating our carbon footprint game as well as our animal memory card games. Because you were there at our booth, I got a chance to go to other booths to share with them about our programs. Really appreciate this.

With great appreciation and thanks
Vilma

2008-08-16T22:00:00.002+08:00

2008-08-11T08:15:00.005+08:00

ACRES ROAD SHOWS

On the 4th August, the YEG ACRES to put up a road show in our school. ACRES stands for Animal Concerns Research and Education Society.

As animals cannot speak up for themselves, it is up to humans to give them a voice, speak up their behalf and end their abuse. ACRES believed in giving this voice to the animals.

Later, the founder of ACRES Mr Louis Ng gave an inspiring talk about his work to the students.

Here, Simon Lim, the leader of the group of YEGs taking part in the Citobank Youth for Cause presented the cheque of $3 000 that has been rasied for ACRERS through the sales of Shoo Mozzie.

Meanwhile a production crew from Channel U was producing a programme on Louis and his work. Later after the talk, they interviewed a group of YEGs from the ESS Army.

Great News

2008-08-02T09:23:00.020+08:00

In May the YEGs were given funds to produce Shoo Mozzie through the Citibank-YMCA Youth for Cause.

We are glad to announced that we have almost achieved our target of selling 500 bottles of Shoo Mozzies.

Through the hard work of all the YEGs we have managed to sell the following bottles of Shoo Mozzies.

39 bottles at Anchorpoint

16 bottles from Kebun Bahru Parent cum Block Party

9 bottles from fun fair in school

2 bottles from World view 360 competition

416 bottles at Singapore Garden Festival

482 total sale up to 31st July.

We are confident that we will be able to sell the last 12 bottles during the Humanities Week from 4th August to 8th August 2008.

Down memory lane.....

It all started with 4 YEGs who wanted to produce the all natural organic mosquito repellent. They have learnt how to produce it from an environmental NGO called Cicada Tree Eco Place. So they decided to appeal for funds from the Youth for Cause project. Here they are putting the final touch to their project.

Production of Shoo Mozzie began in earnest once approval was given. Ms Faridah was in charge of the production.

All the YEGs dropped by to help. Some teachers including Ms Sherri Ng and Mrs Audrey Koh also lend a helping hand.

We started to sell at Anchor Point,

and in our school.

We sold the most bottles at the Singapore Garden Festival.

We were effectively triangle as we deployed students who can speak, Chinese, Malay and English to promote the Shoo Mozzie.

2008-08-02T09:10:00.005+08:00

Three YEGs, took part in the 4th Central Singapore District Public Health Forum on 31st July 2008. They are Srisakvakul Chaiyakorn,Leow Jian Hao and Peh Rui Xiang.

PROGRAMME
4th Central Singapore District Public Health Forum 2008
31 July 2008
6:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m., The Grassroots Club

6.00pm Arrival of participants/Dinner
7.00pm Participants seated/ Start of Forum
7.10pm Making The SWITCH - Review of Central Singapore’s Game Plans

Against Climate Change
7.20pm Sharing of Dengue Situation Report in Central Singapore
7.30pm Arrival of Guest of Honour
7.35pm Welcome Speech by Mayor
7.45pm Launch of Central Singapore “ME CAN” Network
7.50pm “The Chikungunya Chronicles” Video Special
8.10pm “Cool The Climate, Fight The Bite” Skit
8.30pm “Face 2 Face” stage interview
9.15pm Presentation of Tokens Of Appreciation To Panelists
9.30pm End of Forum

Srisakvakul Chaiyakorn and Jian Hao were featured in “The Chikungunya Chronicles” Video Special.

Meanwhile Rui Xiang took part in the“Face 2 Face” stage interview . He is the one seated on the extream right .

The YEGs at the Singapore Garden Festival 2008

2008-07-30T15:30:00.006+08:00

The YEGs have been going down to the Singapore Garden Festival since last Friday to see Shoo Mozzie to raise funds for ACRES. Different groups of YEGs from the young Sec 1 to the young at heart Sec 4 have been taking turns to sell the Shoo Mozzie.

This experience has given the YEGs an opportunity to share with the public about the need to protect our environment.

The banner is used to attract visitors to the booth.

Ms Faridah, the teacher who is in-charge of this project is seen here with Andrew, one of the committee member of the environmental NGO, the Cicada Tree Eco-Place, that we are working with.

Through this project, the YEGs realised that every action counts no matter how small r insignificant it is.

2008-07-23T17:13:00.003+08:00

The YEGs will be selling Shoo Mozzie in partnership with Cicada Tree Eco Place. This is part of our Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes projects. Fund raised will be donated to ACRES, a charity which works to foster respect and compassion for all animals, to improve the living conditions and welfare of captive animals.

We will be at Booth S-14 on weekdays from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

This is the booth that we will be at. As usual, this activity will not contribute towards any CCA points or CIP hours.

Chikungunya video for the NEA.

2008-07-02T17:23:00.008+08:00

Two of our YEGs Jian Hao and Srisakvarakul Chaiyakorn, were involved in the video filming for Chikungunya Highlight on the 26 June 2008, Thursday at 2.30pm (Little India) & 27 June 2008, Friday at 1.15pm (Environment Health Institute).

The first Chikungunya case in Singapore this year was detected on 14 January 2008. A total of 12 cases were later confirmed in the Little India area. Investigations from Ministry of Health revealed that the “foreign national" who contracted the fever have not traveled out of Singapore for several months, Thus confirming that the Chikungunya cases were locally transmitted.

The first person the YEG interviewed was Damian Lee, Executive, NEA CRO. Since the Chikungunya outbreak at Little India, NEA has also been conducting intensive search and destroy operations beyond Clive Street. which are bounded by Rochor Road, Race Course Road, Lavender Street and Jalan Besar, to remove mosquito breeding habitats. As at 6 February 2008, Some 20 NEA officers and 15 pest control operators were mobilized to work in the area. More than 4,800 inspections have been conducted and a total of 77 breedings have been detected and destroyed.

Mr Nordin. He is the sanitation and vector control (SVC) manager from National Environment Agency Central Regional Office who is in charge of Jalan Besar area.

Some of the NGOs like Little India Shopowners & Heritage Association (LISHA) also play a key role to assist government agencies’ fight against Chikungunya. Mr Rajakumar Chandra is the chairman of LISHA which played a key role to assist government agencies’ fight against Chikungunya during the outbreak

Later they went to the Environment Health Institute to interview the Head of Environmental Health Institute, Dr Ng Lee Ching.

In Singapore, when the number of Chikungunya cases increased in January, the Ministry of Health and the Environmental Health Institute started to screen residents and workers in the popular Little India enclave. Since 14 January 2008, it was estimated that a total of 2,626 people were screened.

It was an enriching and fulfilling experience doing the video.

This video clip will be showcased at the 4th Public Health Forum (organised jointly by NEA-Central Regional Office & Central Singapore CDC) on the 31 July 2008

CitiBank-YMCA Youth for Cause Competition

2008-06-11T10:38:00.004+08:00

Youth Environmental Guardians(YEGs) in our school is taking part in theCitibank-YMCA Youth for Causes .

This year, a new dimension has been added to the Youth for Causes programme:- (a) Encouraging projects which promotes sustainable development, e.g. projects that helps Non Profit Organisations which are supporting environmental causes.

The YEGS have chosen to raise funds for ACRES which stands for Animal Concerns Research & Education Society. They hope to promote Shoo Mozzie to raise funds for ACRES.

Here is an article from the Straits Time about the founder of ACRES.

June 8, 2008
Acres gets Law Minister's thumbs up
By Shobana Kesava

WHEN Mr Louis Ng set up a welfare group here to improve the lot of wild animals, he was labelled a fanatic.

Some thought he had a screw loose.
Seven years later, he is no longer a voice in the wilderness.

Acres, short for Animal Concerns Research & Education Society, has 12,000 volunteers and donors, Government funding and - this is crucial - status as an institution of public character, which allows donations to it to be tax-exempt.
Mr Ng, 29, said: 'I was always told, 'You're a small fry' and 'You can't change big organisations'.'

He has not only made the authorities sit up and take notice, he now works with them to nab those in the illegal wildlife trade.

Acres is also building a shelter in Sungei Tengah big enough to house and give medical treatment to at least 400 animals; it even works with other animal welfare groups to give out grants to students for their own animal-protection projects.

His secret: Perseverance.

A baby chimpanzee named Rhamba started it all for him in 2000.
Then a 21-year-old volunteer photographer for the zoo, he said he saw a keeper punch Rhamba in the face to discipline it.

He said: 'She ran to me and hugged me. I knew then that I had to speak on her behalf.'

He tipped off The Straits Times, which reported the incident and started a groundswell of support from animal lovers who successfully campaigned for Rhamba to be returned to her family.

The zoo denied this was a problem, but following the media publicity, it stopped isolating baby chimps from their families.

Adding that zookeepers have come a long way since then, Mr Ng still considers the episode 'the best thing that happened in my life'.

Inspired to do more for animals, he and eight friends started what would become Singapore's first wildlife protection agency, scraping together less than $1,000 in combined savings.

The National University of Singapore-trained biologist was then doing his masters in primate conservation part time with the Oxford Brookes University in Britain, but through sheer will and support from friends, he got Acres up and running on a shoestring in 2001.

He and his team began by fanning out to give talks in schools. Public education is on-going.

In the past seven years, Mr Ng estimated, Acres has reached out to over 200,000 people about animal abuse and how animals can be better protected.
The group's efforts here have so impressed Law Minister K. Shanmugam that he agreed - on short notice - to speak at Acres' seventh anniversary celebrations last month.

And here is the article published on January 28 2001 about the outcome of Mr Louis's action.

Zoo's 'snapshot' chimps now run free
Singapore Zoo ends confinement of trained chimpanzees on the back of criticism by animal-welfare groups
By Eunice Lau

THE days of being caged in are over for Poko, Gombe and Rhamba - Singapore Zoo's young chimpanzees, which pose daily for photographs with visitors.
The zoo decided to end their confinement following an outcry by the International Primate Protection League (IPPL) and the World Society for the Protection of Animals.

The three - aged between 1 1/2 and four years - are in a long line of chimpanzees which have helped popularise animal photography at the zoo for more than 15 years. Poko, Gombe and Rhamba were taken away from their mothers at birth and raised by the keepers. They were kept apart from the other chimpanzees, which lived in an open enclosure.

After being trained to pose with visitors, they were kept in cages so that it was easier to produce them for photography.

They were integrated with the rest of the chimpanzees shortly after The Sunday

Times reported in November last year on the animal-welfare groups' attack on the caging of the trained chimpanzees.

Frolicking in the sun: Rhamba, trained from young to pose with visitors, is no longer caged and is now reunited with mother Suzy (above left) and the other chimpanzees. -- THOMAS WHITE

This was revealed by Mr Bernard Harrison, chief executive officer of Wildlife Reserves, during a visit last Sunday to the zoo by an IPPL director, Mrs Dianne Taylor-Snow.

'We are very open to what the animal-welfare groups have said,' he said. 'Animal welfare is the overriding deciding factor.'
He said the young chimpanzees would not be separated from the rest of the herd again.
So far, the three have responded well to the changes and have been accepted by the other chimpanzees.

The Sunday Times saw them rolling on the grass and frolicking with other chimpanzees under the sun.

The keepers do not have any problem retrieving them from the group for their photography sessions, which continue as usual.

The zoo has also decided to immunise all young chimpanzees against common human diseases and asked keepers to explain to visitors the need for conservation.

Mrs Taylor-Snow, an American, was happy: 'We will continue to monitor the situation, but we are pleased with the changes.'

Conservationist Louis Ng, 22, who blew the whistle on the practice of caging the chimpanzees after witnessing a keeper allegedly abusing Rhamba, said the fight was worth it.

'I wanted to improve the conditions for the animals. Maybe I did it the wrong way, but that should not be the issue now.

'After seeing Poko, Gombe and Rhamba run in the open enclosure, I feel I've done something good.'

P.S.

ON April 5, 2004 Rhamba, the Singapore Zoo’s celebrity chimpanzee, died during a failed escape attempt. She climbed over the electric barriers and was shot by a tranquillizer dart gun. But she still managed to run straight into a reservoir and drowned before the keepers could save her.

This is what the New Paper reported on the 9th April 2004.

Animal welfare activist Louis Ng had got to know the chimpanzee when he was a volunteer in 2000.

He launched his first campaign to pressure the zoo to stop photo-taking with the chimps, claiming that he saw Rhamba being punched in the face to make her behave.

He went on to set up the Animal Concerns Research and Education Society.
Responding to Rhamba's death, Mr Ng said: 'To say that I am devastated is an understatement.

'I remember the times she would come and hug me, seeking comfort when times were hard.

'I would not be fighting for the rights of animals if not for her.'

This is the newspaper report from Nov 7, 2000 which started the ball rolling for ACRES.
Outcry, so young chimps will get a bigger cage

BECAUSE of the outcry by animal-rights groups, Poko, Rhamba and Gombe - the three young chimpanzees trained to pose with visitors daily - will be getting a bigger cage.

Mr Harrison said that although the cage in which they live is by no means 'squalid and small' - it measures 2 m by 2 m by 3 m - the zoo will be building a bigger one.

Unlike the open closure of the other chimps, Gombe (above), Poko and Rhamba are caged up so keepers can produce them for photo sessions. -- ALAN LIM

'To be honest, it is in relation to what has been going on,' he said.
The three chimpanzees, raised by their keepers from young, have been kept apart from the rest of the chimpanzees which live in an open enclosure.

They have been kept confined so that it is easier for the keepers to produce them for photography sessions.

When the issue of the zoo's practice of using apes for photography was raised briefly at the annual World Zoo Organisation conference last month, Mr Harrison had said that he would review the zoo's policy and the way it keeps its animals.

2008-06-09T13:31:00.004+08:00

The YEGs took part in the Enterprising Retailing Team Challenge 2008

This competition is jointly organised by Yuying Secondary School, the Association of Commerce Educators Singapore (ACES) and the National Institute of Education (NIE). The students set up a stall at Anchor Point from 7th to 8th June 2008. They decided to sell Shoo Mozzie for this competition.

These are Sec One YEGs which we have recruited in May. They have helped to produce the Shoo Mozzie and are now eager to help promote it to the public.

The YEGs are glad to learn about Financial Literacy as this is an important to to have when we want to work together to save the environment.

Some of the YEGs distributed flyers to promoet Shoo Mozzie.

Explaining to the shopper the importance of Shoo Mozzie.

Later in the afternoon, another group of YEGs from the Sec Two cohort came and took over the shift form the Secondary One students.

Project CLEAN

2008-05-25T21:16:00.007+08:00

Project Clean

@Ang Mo Kio GRC

and Yeo Chu Kang SMC

25th May 2008

A group of YEGs, who are taking part in a competition called Worldview 360, was taking part in a community outreach called Project Clean at Ang Mo Kio Ave 10.

Using pull-up poster designed by the ever talented Mr Joshua Shoo, they help to educate the community on the effect of climate change.

They also presented a skit to spread the message that is important to wash our hands and to keep the toilet cleam.

The founder of Cicada Tree Eco Place Prof Vilma and Celiene was at the event to support the YEGs.

The Makimg of Shoo Mossie.

2008-05-22T18:42:00.010+08:00

An army of YEG was on hand to make the Shoo Mozzie on 21st May 2008.

Here, the director of Skinplus , Jacob Liu ,(a company which supply spa products) was on hand to show the studnets the art of making Shoo Mozzie.

The YEGs from 4A preparing to make Shoo Mozzie.

WoW ! This is fun.

Ms Faridah, one of the teachers in charge of the YEG, was on hand to ensure that there is quality control.

Mr Lai, getting all the ingredient ready.

Studnets getting ready to cap the bottles.

Mr Lai, explaining the proper procedure to bottle the Shoo Mozzie.

Mrs Audrey Koh, another teacher in charge of the YEG was there to lend a helping hand.

Ms Sherri Ng, sterilization the bottles.

Altogether, 1000 bottles of Shoo Mozzie were produced using the money provided by the Coyote Funds. Shoo Mozzie, an all natural insect repellent, was developed by the environmental NGO Cicada-Tree Eco Place (CTEP). With the support of the Coyote Funds, CTEP now can sell the Shoo Mozzie at a lower price so that more people can benefit from the use of natural insect repellent.

We have to thank Mr Lai whose company did not charge us GST and provided all the ingredients at cost so that we can keep the price low.

We will be promoting the Shoo Mozzie is Sunday. Here are the details

Project CLEAN @ Ang Mo Kio GRC & Yio Chu Kang SMC

25 MAY 2008, Sunday

Blk 548 Ang Mo Kio Ave 10

Citibank-YMCA Youth For Cause

2008-05-16T19:32:00.002+08:00

The Citibank-YMCA Youth for Causes programme started in 2003. Besides empowering young people to create businesses that serve a social cause of their choice, the programme also provides an element of education and training.

Some of us YEGs from Mayflower came up with a great business and at the same time wanted to help an environmental Non Profit Organisation, Cicada Tree Eco Place (CTEP) with the money we can earn.

We have been helping to promote an all natural insect repellent developed by CTEP at three events in February and April. Sales were good but the greatest challenges we faced were having not enough funds to produce more Shoo!Mozzie.

At each event, we could only sell twenty bottles as we only have enough funds to produce these small quantities.

So in April, we decided to apply for more funds to expend our business and on the 3rd of May, we were at the YMCA pitching our business ideas to the panel of judges. We were only informed four days earlier that we have been shorted listed. While preparing for our mid-year examination, we took time of to prepare our presentation.

Here the team memebers are presenting to Mrs Selva, our Vice Principal and Mr Shoo before they present their business plan to the judges.

On 13th May, we were happy to receive the news that we have been selected to be a participating team of Citibank-YMCA Youth For Causes 2008.

We will be at the official launch and the details are below.

CITIBANK-YMCA YOUTH FOR CAUSES 2008
OFFICIAL LAUNCH

Saturday, 31 May 2008 at 11.00am

ACS Barker Road, Mrs Lee Choon Guan Concert Hall

2008-05-15T19:48:00.001+08:00

Shoo! Mozzie

All Natural insect repellent

The YEGs have established a partnership with Cicada Tree Eco-Place (CTEP)to jointly promote Shoo! Mozzie, an all natural insect repellent.

Here, three of our YEGs are learning from the co-founders of CTEP about Shoo! Mozzie, an all natural insect repellent.

The YEGs discover that the ingredients are all organic. These include aloe vera gel, essential oils of lemongrass and citronella.

One of the co-founder of CTEP demonstrates how the Shoo! Mozzie is bottled.

The YEGs making a promotional video for Shoo! Mozzie.

Environmental Education Advisors

Networking Session 2008

Venue : Nanyang Girl's High

Date : 16 February 2008

The first project that the YEGs and CTEP collaborated on is at this networking session for the Environmental Education Advisor held at Nanyang Girl's High on 16 February 2008.

A tray displaying natural insect repellents: Pandan Leave and Lemon Grass.

Here the YEGs is explaining to the Guest of Honour, Mr Lee Yuen Hee,the Chief Executive Officer of National Environment Agency (NEA) how the Shoo! Mozzie work.

The YEGs using this opportunity to promote awareness of the problem of using chemical insect repellent.

The YEGs taking a group photo with Prof Vilma D'Rosario the co-founder of CTEP, a happy customer who bought the Shoo Mozzie and Mrs. Ess.

Schools' Green Audit Award

2008-04-29T21:20:00.001+08:00

The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is giving out awards to schools that participate in its "How Green is Your School" programme.

Mrs Selva, our vice-principal is receiving the award on behalf of our school from Mr. Howard Shaw the chairman of Singapore Environmnetal Council.

Here is a pictorial tour of Mayflower Secondary School -- A garden in bloom.

Mayflower Secondary School has been awarded the Hibiscus Award for the year 2007.

A quite corner for Mayflowerian to rest and recreate.

Knowledge is like a garden; if it is not cultivated, it cannot be harvested.

I THINK that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth's flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Joyce Kilmer. 1886–1918

Science Teacher Association of Singapore (STAS) Day

2008-04-27T16:34:00.008+08:00

STAS DAY 2008

Venue : Singapore Science Centre

Date : 19 April 2008

The YEGs were invited to show case the Shoo! Mozzie together with Cicada Tree Eco-Place the environment NGO that Mayflower Secondary is partnering to promote environmental awareness.

YEGs answering questions about Shoo Mozzie from the science teachers.

YEGs presenting their slide shows on Shoo Mozzie.

Celine the creator of Shoo Mozzie was there to explain in greater detail why we should use organic products.

Later the chair person of STAS provided the following feedback for the event.

Dear Vilma and Celine,
Thank you for sharing with the participants on STAS Day.
The Earth Buzz session has certainly created an awareness of Cicada Tree Ecoplace among the participants.
They have shown keen interest in the collaborative projects which CTEP does with schools.
Your team from Mayflower Sec has certainly created an impact! :-) hope they managed to sell all the Shoo Mozzie and perfume.
Thanks once again and STAS look forward to future collaboration with CTEP.

best regards,
Pearly Ng Chairperson,
STAS Day

Mayflower Sec received the Gold Award for Central Singapore O.N.E. Awards

2008-03-30T22:55:00.004+08:00

Mrs. Selva, Mayflower Vice Principal received the O.N.E. Gold Award for the work that the YEG has done in 2007.

These awards are jointly presented by the Central Singapore Community Development Council and National Environment Agency, Central Regional Office.

The theme for 2007 was ‘Clean up, Bin it, Don’t Breed it’, with a focus on combating dengue, which has been recently on the rise.

This award aims to reach Out to the community, Nurture, educate and train them, and to Enable and empower them to put their heart into the earth.

The award was conceived to recognize, acknowledge and affirm the necessity to be pro-active in caring for the environment.

In total, 26 school in the Central Singapore District participated in this award and Mayflower Secondary School is the only school in Singapore that received this award for the work that they have done in 2007.

Mrs Selva,Vice Principal of Mayflower Secondary School receiving the award.