Founded in 2006, the ISB Eco Group has met regularly to discuss and support the school's eco initiatives. It started with a division of labour by handing out an eco audit and using staff from around the school to fill it in. We found out about recycling, contacting local companies and organised the purchase of bins. We learned that recycling does not make you rich! It is a dirty, smelly job and needs to be well organised. So some of the money we raise goes to the staff that have to sort it all each Saturday morning.
We are responsible for initiating recycling programmes in other schools across Brunei, holding the first Green Gala Dinner, completing very successful beach clean ups, recycling cans, paper, plastic, batteries and computers and of course starting the Million Trees Project. We have formed links with other schools around the world, all keen to do their bit to help out.
FOBISSEA and Eco Schools
ISB has been integral in encouraging other schools in South East Asia to join Eco Schools. So far, we have 18 FOBISSEA schools registered, with 2 schools achieving the Silver Award and 6 schools achieving the Bronze award. ISB hopes to achieve the Green Flag award by early 2012.
National Environment Conference
ISB has won 2 awards in the past 2 years at the National Environment Conference. This year, ISB is working with JIS to implement a nationwide Eco Video Competition aimed at encouraging schools in Brunei to promote their eco activities. The competition is sponsored by HSBC and is being organised in conjunction with STEP and Asia Inc. Over 40 entries have been submitted and the finalists will win an Ipod Shuffle, which will be presented at the 2011 National Environment Conference.
Brunei Nature Society
An integral aspect to environmental sustainability is biodiversity. The Brunei Nature Society celebrates the unique flora and fauna found in Brunei. Members of the ISB teaching staff have been actively involved with them to help raise awareness of Brunei's rich and precious biological resources.
Beach Bunch
The Adult Eco group has worked in collaboration with the Beach Bunch, composed of members outside the ISB community. They are working to achieve Brunei's first Blue Flag Award. The Beach Bunch have since forged a memorandum with ISB with these goals in mind and have organised successful beach clean-ups together.
The Beach Bunch also conduct workshops to raise awareness and educate on environmental issues. One of these workshops held at JIS was attended by 4 students from ISB.
