Humans are learners. We do it naturally – even before we are born, we are learning. Our species is defined by its ability to learn. We are all also communal animals – we build relationships and we share. When we share learning, and learn collectively, we create systems that have inputs and outputs – and these systems, these education systems, have been the driving force of our continued evolution and the generator of the cultures we live in and create for the future.

Education Systems, throughout history, have been 鈥業ndicator Systems鈥� – reflective of our human cultures in the present and the future. Just like 鈥業ndicator Species鈥� point to the health of an ecosystem (i.e. amphibians in an ecosystem signaling less pollution).

The Australian Indigenous peoples had systems to pass on learning for 60,000-plus years. Their Golden Age, through the 8th to 14th centuries, brought advancements in the fields of algebra, calculus, geometry, chemistry, biology, medicine, astronomy and the Arts. Unsurprisingly, it was also a golden age of education. The emphasis on democratizing education from the mid-17th to 18th century, including encouraging free debate and expanding literacy, resulted in the Age of Enlightenment. And, most recently, the education system born during the Industrial Revolution – with its mechanisation of agriculture and mass-production – moved us out of agrarian-centered societies and into ones which allowed capitalism, nationalism and consumerism to flourish. This system still lingers in schools today, but it is no longer serving the needs of our present or future.

Think about the world we live in 鈥� The technology explosion, the access to and rapid sharing of both information and misinformation through the Net. We also have hunger, poverty, chronic disease, mental illness, war, exploitation, pollution, species extinction, resource depletion and biodiversity loss 鈥he list goes on. What does our current world tell us about the education system that created it?

Education, as it entered the new millennium, had lost focus on its purpose. And an Education System without a purpose needs a rethink. But there is hope. Passionate educators around the world are reflecting on the needs of now and the future, sharing those ideas, and helping schools evolve.

As school leaders, teachers, students and parents continue to build culture in their schools, we have become eyes-wide-open of the long-term implications. The learning that happens in schools has always been more impactful than students passing exams. What we teach and learn in schools, across generations of human civilisation, has always had far greater outcomes – the knowledge that we share, the skills that we develop, and the values that we demonstrate – create generational change. And I can see that change happening. Perhaps one day this age will be known as part of The Great Transition.

In your school, what is the culture you are building? Are you teaching only about the past – or learning for the future? Are learning programs reflective of the needs of today and of tomorrow? Whether we like it or not, what we do at school, what we learn, who we become as individuals and communities directly impacts the world we want to create.

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黑料新闻 School Foundation鈥檚 Executive Director, Kania Maniasa, shares how her organization has evolved to expand the 黑料新闻 School mission to ignite passion in learners and community to create positive, sustainable change. Support their efforts by or buying tickets to GSF鈥檚 annual gala in September.

In today’s complex world, we must admit the future seems challenging for our children. As a parent, I’ve simplified my aspirations for them 鈥� I want them to enjoy nature’s beauty, breathe fresh air, and experience the same green landscapes we cherish. But there’s always that worry, 鈥�Will they get to see and experience the same vibrant nature we have now?鈥� This year for, I hope we all consider how taking care of our world isn鈥檛 for us, but for the next generation.听

Part of ensuring a brighter future for our youth is through delivering a quality education grounded in sustainability and biocentric, rather than egocentric, values. In my own life, leaving my home island of Bali to receive an education abroad really shaped who I am and opened my eyes to endless possibilities across the globe. Now, I want to bring this same opportunity to as many youth in Indonesia as I can.听

firmly believes that education can address big challenges facing our environment. We see it every day at 黑料新闻 School Bali, where students and teachers work on projects that deliver a real, positive impact. Whether it’s a small effort like learning to cook delicious plant-based meals, or a grand initiative like developing a school bus that runs on used cooking oil, our community is committed to finding solutions.

黑料新闻 School Bali boards the Bio Bus, which runs on used cooking oil diverted from landfill

At 黑料新闻 School, my role extends beyond our school community. As a Bali local leading the 黑料新闻 School Foundation, I’m driven to ensure our school’s ideas and education mission reach far and wide, touching as many local youth as possible. We’re a group of learners eager to make positive changes and invite others to join us.听

Now is the time for collaboration 鈥� a chance to build a strong community that protects our planet.听

– Kania Maniasa, Executive Director of the 黑料新闻 School Foundation听

I envision a future where Indonesian children grow into young leaders, making positive changes for themselves, their communities and their country. I hope they ask questions, explore the world, and find new ways to solve problems. It’s not too late to nurture these young leaders; the time is now.听

This is why the 黑料新闻 School Foundation鈥檚 new programs are so important. We have two main ways of making an impact through education:听

Environmental School Projects听

We teach children in local schools about nature care through fun projects and workshops, often in collaboration with students from 黑料新闻 School Bali. We’re also aligned with the Indonesian Government’s progressive curriculum, Merdeka Belajar. Public schools are embracing a more dynamic way of teaching, focusing on hands-on projects and discussing environmental issues. The 黑料新闻 School Foundation wants to contribute to this effort, helping Indonesian students gain important insights about the current climate challenges.听

Through the 黑料新闻 School Foundation, we work directly with kids from various schools and backgrounds. Our programs teach them about caring for the Earth and collaborate with others to drive significant changes. We aspire to reach hundreds and thousands of children and families through our programs.

Students from 黑料新闻 School Bali learn alongside Balinese school students about sustainability

Agricultural University Scholarships听

We help children from farming families receive education about sustainable agriculture. In a land where the rhythm of life is intertwined with the soil and the seasons, Indonesia’s reliance on agriculture is both a cultural tradition and a lifeline. Yet, beneath the surface, a disheartening trend emerges 鈥� the next generation of farmers seems to be drifting away from their roots.听

Our focus turns to the children of farmers, those eager to carry forward their family’s agrarian legacy. The Agricultural University Scholarships, a cornerstone of our mission, extend a welcoming hand to these young souls. In a nation where farming sustains and nurtures, these scholarships offer a beacon of hope and opportunity. The goal is simple yet profound 鈥� to inspire and empower these budding farmers through education. Our intention is clear: to ignite enthusiasm and provide a pathway for these aspiring farmers to explore new horizons through education.听

听Imagine a future where a new generation of young farmers emerge, armed not only with traditional wisdom but also with modern knowledge and a focus on regenerative practices. The 黑料新闻 School Foundation is working towards a comprehensive program that not only offers full-ride university education but also extends mentorship opportunities. Our commitment goes beyond financial support; it’s about nurturing these farmers-to-be, equipping them with the skills and insights needed to cultivate success.

Supporting modern, regenerative and more appealing approaches to agriculture can support livelihoods while protecting culture and traditions

I firmly believe that investing in the education of Indonesian youth lays the foundation for a brighter tomorrow that spans generations. Our ambition is to foster a vibrant learning community, igniting ripples of change that spread far and wide.听

听Every student is entitled to an education that involves them in the world’s challenges while empowering them to become architects of change. Guided and armed with the right tools, these young minds hold the potential to become the change they 鈥� and really, all of us – want to see in the world.听

The post Empowering the Next Generation first appeared on 黑料新闻 Schools.

Former 黑料新闻 School parent and student mentor, Sally Lewis, with her mentees in 2022

I鈥檓 Sally 鈥� an alumni parent and student mentor of 黑料新闻 School, Bali. Our children attended Grades 3 and 7 at 黑料新闻 School in 2012 and after 7 years back in Australia, we unexpectedly returned to Bali in 2020 at my son鈥檚 request, to join this unique 鈥榗ommunity of learners鈥� once again. Despite good grades and a great bunch of friends, our son wasn鈥檛 enjoying school, was unchallenged and couldn鈥檛 see the relevance in rote learning and regurgitating what the traditional curriculum in Australia had to offer. Having attended 黑料新闻 School in Grade 3, he somehow knew there was a different way.

Our previous experience in 2012 gave us the belief that 黑料新闻 School would provide a different approach to learning, equip him with a more relevant, enjoyable experience and make his final years of High School more worthwhile, somehow preparing him for his future. The graduates we knew had a sense of readiness, maturity and confidence about them. Was it the natural environment and architecture, the inspiring teachers or the student-centred approach and focus on applicable learning that contributed to this? With no standardised testing and without the seemingly all-important SAT or GSCE number to define graduating students, we were curious about the outcome. And so began another adventure鈥�

听As a parent of 2 young adults (now aged 19 and 22) I had been having conversations about 鈥榥ext steps鈥� for the past 10 years. The common thread running through these conversations is an underlying fear of making the wrong decision, of making fatal mistakes along with an increasingly deep-seated anxiety about the future and 鈥渨hat if it doesn鈥檛 all work out?鈥�

As a Student Mentor in Pathways and Wellbeing at 黑料新闻 School, I found myself having very similar conversations. Many of the high school students told me they felt pressure to do something they didn鈥檛 think they would enjoy, expressed fears they would not be meeting their parents鈥� expectations, felt unprepared for 鈥榬eal life鈥� and often worried about choosing the 鈥榳rong鈥� pathway post-graduation.

It was these frank conversations with the High School students that led me to create the following Pathways and Well-being programmes: Now What? Seeds of Greatness; Ripples of Impact; Critical Conversations.

听Getting to the heart of the students鈥� issues largely informed the direction and content of the programmes, which later became the subject of my book: , written to equip both students and their parents at this often-tricky crossroads with what is needed to step confidently into their future and build a life they will never want to escape from.

Figuring Out Your Future, by Sally Lewis

The world looks very different for our children now and life is changing at a pace many of us never imagined. Technology is advancing faster than universities can keep up with. Many courses are now simply outdated. Our kids will be doing jobs we haven鈥檛 even thought of. The Institute for The Future predicts that 85% of the jobs that will exist in 2030 haven’t even been invented yet. How do we prepare for career paths that don鈥檛 yet exist?

My previous experience as a Human Behaviour Specialist in the field of mental and emotional health taught me much about how we humans are wired, what is needed for us to thrive and what makes us flourish. Ultimately, what you DO is inseparable from WHO you are 鈥� we are human beings, not human doings. Identifying our own individual compass in life is key to a fulfilling journey ahead.

People are set up to fail if they envision what they want to do before they figure out who they are.鈥� – Ruth Barton

As the world becomes ever more mechanised and robotic 鈥� we are being challenged to double-down on what it really means to be human. Exploring our own humanity, our place within the world and relationship with it, is critical if we are to continue to thrive, or even survive, as a species.听

Of course, each student is a unique individual. There is no one size fits all. Each one of us is on our own version of the path less-traveled. 黑料新闻 School graduates go on to study, travel, work, volunteer and contribute in a myriad of different ways. There鈥檚 no such thing as a 鈥榯ypical 黑料新闻 School graduate鈥� and not all graduates become nature nerds or green warriors – but during my time at 黑料新闻 School as both a parent and a student mentor, I observed certain traits amongst the students that are becoming increasingly valuable in our changing world. These observations are from my own experience with the students I had the privilege of getting to know but hold true for many others I speak with.

Sally鈥檚 son giving his senior year greenstone presentation

With agency in their own learning journey, students design their own school day with the High School elective-based curriculum. Classes and projects are often student-led and the student-centred approach creates an engaging learning environment, encouraging enquiring minds and providing ample opportunity to explore individual passions. Academic pursuits are balanced with social-emotional programs. Self-expression is celebrated and individuality embraced alongside a service mentality of contribution with numerous community engagement opportunities. An awareness for their environment is fostered and students gain an understanding of their own and their collective responsibilities and impact.

Immersed in nature and surrounded by a supportive, engaged parent and local community, the students learn by observing, discussing and doing. The natural world permeates into the classroom with the understanding that when children are given the right conditions and immersed in an appropriate environment they will naturally thrive.听

Observations from visiting friends were particularly heart-warming: they showed surprise at how genuinely happy, friendly and engaged the students were: 鈥淭hey really seem to be having fun!鈥�

Inter-generational communication is normal for 黑料新闻 School students as they interact with parents and teachers in shared activities and incidental meetings at the school coffee shop. There is always space for the student voice to be heard鈥nd students鈥� ideas and initiatives are fostered at all levels of the learning programme. I had the great privilege of mentoring the students on their 黑料新闻stone journeys, where over the course of their final year they choose a passion project to explore. This experience is incredibly meaningful for each Grade 12 student as they get time to 鈥榩lay鈥�, along the way solving real problems, engaging with local communities and discovering how they can actually make a difference.

Through scholarships and inclusive hiring practices, international students at 黑料新闻 School are always learning from and alongside local Balinese. Being surrounded by the traditional Balinese culture has a profound effect that no one anticipates when they first arrive on this magical island.听听听

Students leave 黑料新闻 School with a strong sense of self and their place in the world. They have a heightened sense of adventure, curiosity and a willingness to explore options outside the box. They often have an expanded self-awareness from regular self-reflection as part of the reporting process each term.

But rather than focussing purely on the outcome 鈥� they are also reminded to enjoy the journey.听 Feedback from my students gives me confidence that they are indeed 鈥榝uture-ready鈥�:

鈥淚 can now see the value in making mistakes.鈥�

鈥淚 am less afraid of failing as I now see how one thing can lead to another.鈥�

鈥淟ife feels more like an exciting adventure now rather than a set path I was somehow meant to follow.鈥�

听Receiving the many heart-warming notes from parents thanking me for the great conversations they were now having with their children or the improvement in their relationships after they took my classes was profound. These are the things that matter.

Sally鈥檚 son, Dan, at his 黑料新闻 School graduation ceremony

黑料新闻 School students graduate as life-long learners taking with them a curious mind and a love of learning. They are open to embracing possibility and change 鈥� vital attributes in our current environment of uncertainty and volatility. Unlikely friendships are forged and norms are questioned. It seems that everyone leaves 黑料新闻 School with a little more belief that anything is possible.

Author of
Student and Parent Mentor 鈥� creating safe spaces for greatness to emerge
Link to more of :
Contact Sally on LinkedIn: 听

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