Honour at inter school ecology project competition

Environment is no ones property to destroy; its everyones responsibility to protect. Mohith Agadi

The Programme for Environmental Awareness in Schools (PEAS) commemorated its 25th anniversary of working together with a network of schools, teachers and students to create environmental awareness and nurture action to protect the environment.

As a part of its silver jubilee celebrations, PEAS organised a unique initiative ECOSOPHY-Love for the Environment.

Ecosophy is a philosophy of ecological harmony or equilibrium. Ecological devastation is a prime concern not only for ecologists, geologists and scientists but also for all humans who are anxious of the future of life on Planet Earth as the survival of all living things depends on the resources provided by it. The recent pandemic, climate changes, natural disasters call out for a new way of living. Ecosophy believes in understanding the wisdom of Earth and living in ecological harmony with every specie, organism and resource on this planet.

Students and teachers of classes VI-VIII from across the country participated in the all India Ecosophy competition. The competition included assigning a project to the students. The students were given their topics on 5 October and were to submit their projects by 30 November, 2020.

Dr. Sanaya Nariman, PEAS Chairperson (Delhi), Dr Pushpa Maturi, PEAS Chairperson (Hyderabad) drove the project. They conducted a Launch Webinar on 5 October 2020 to orient the participants and their teachers on the projects to be undertaken.

Each participating school nominated 3 teachers to mentor the students for the same.

The Indian School was represented by 20 students and their teachers-Ms. Rukmini Thampi, Ms Sarah Khanna and Ms. Neha Gulati.

Some guidelines for participation were as below.

The Ecosophy initiative was directed to students of classes VI to VIII to initiate projects on any of the selected themes:

1. Grow Green, Go Green

2. Wilderness in my vicinity

3. Waste Matters

4. Urban Water Cycle

The rules of the competition were as below.

Students were to organise themselves in groups of 4 -10 students.

Schools were to select 2 to 3 teachers to mentor the students for the projects and coordinate with the organisers.

The focus of the projects would be Sustained Action initiated and undertaken. A representation of the way the themes selected are integrated in the students' daily/ personal and family or community routines, would be appreciated.

Each school would itself select Three (3) Best Student Projects and submit the same to the organisers for their final evaluation.

The students would be encouraged to undertake innovative projects and represent them in any of the following modes: -

1. Audio or audio- visual communications - 5 minutes (max) per group ( only audio story / film with / without narration)

2. Power point presentation - 5 minutes (max) per group Slide Show

It was a matter of pride and recognition that our School team was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation for its project, Wilderness in Vicinity. The participating students had taken a pledge to save the environment and Mother Earth by growing more plants and banning the use of single-use plastic items.

Evidently, the event was a successful attempt at building a sustainable environment and awakening young minds to the cause.