JAAI Environment Programme for School Children (2007)

Environment Awareness Programme For School Children

Help the Earth

An Environment Awareness Programme, “Help the Earth” was held at Delhi Public School, Dwarka on February 8, 2006 in collaboration with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and JICA Alumni Association of India (JAAI). The objective was to enhance environment consciousness among school children. The programme highlighted the urgent need for the younger generation to appreciate Nature’s bounty, cherish and preserve it.

The programme began with the planting of saplings by the chief guest Mr. T.Sakai, Resident Representative and Mr. Iijima, Assistant Resident Representative from JICA India Office, Mr. Narendra Kumar, Chairman DPS Society and other dignitaries present. After the formal lighting of the lamp, the guests were felicitated with bouquets. There were about 20 delegates from JICA India Office and JAAI, PTA members of the school, representatives from NGO, who graced the occasion.

The Principal Mrs. Aruna Ummat in her welcome address re-iterated the need to commemorate Nature and to nurture the young students with knowledge to manage our natural resources for the benefits of the human race.

The programme was spread over three different venues, where three events – Inter School Jingles Competition, Inter School Eco-Creativity using Waste Materials and On-the-spot Painting Competition took place. DPS RK Puram, DPS Rohini, DPS Vasant Kunj, Govt. Co-Ed Senior Secondary School, Govt. Sarvodaya Co-Ed Vidyalaya, St. Marks Sr. Secondary School, Janakpuri, Manav Sthali School, New Rajinder Nagar were a few of the 20 schools that participated in the events. Trophies (to schools) and cash prizes (to individuals) were awarded to winners as well as runners-up in each category of events.

Inter School Jingles Competition:- Following themes related to environment were given to each school: Ų Reduce, Reuse and recycle, the three green R’s. Ų Rays of Hope. Solar Energy. Ų Man is a complex being: he makes deserts bloom and lakes die.

It was exhilarating to watch students of classes VI and VII warm up to the themes and present their ideas in original tunes. The 1st Prize was won by DPS Dwarka, the 2nd Prize by DPS R.K.Puram while the 3rd prize was bagged by Mount Carmel School, Dwarka.

Inter School Eco-Creativity Using Waste Materials Competition:- Each school was given the same set of waste materials, out of which students of classes VIII and IX had to make something creative but at the same time of utility value. Nimble hands started working and different items of use like working model of water purifier (RO System), wall hanging cum pen holder and flower vase were the finished products. It was commendable and a great learning experience, even for the adults, to realize how well waste materials can be utilised. The 1st prize was bagged by Manav Sthali School, New Rajinder Nagar, 2nd Prize by DPS Dwarka and the 3rd Prize by DAV School, Vasant Kunj.

On-the-spot Painting Competition:- An “On the spot paining competition” was organised for classes III, IV and V. A group of 90 students participated in the competition. The students of class III showed their talent on themes such as save Forest, Clean City Green City and Save Plants and trees; the students of class IV showcased their talents on Save Earth and its Environment, Pollution prevention and Water conservation and the students of class V exhibited their talents on Global Warming, impact of Pollution of Life and Natural Disasters (Tsunami, Drought etc.) The names of the winners are: Class III : Shumham Behl (1st prize), Aakriti Kaul and Vedant Suri (2nd prize), Akshit Mehndiratta (3rd prize). Class IV: Raghav Taneja (1st Prize), Shubani Malhotra (2nd prize), Abhimanyu Chopra (3rd prize). Class V: Anvesha Dosajh (1st Prize), Sanchit Shorewal (2nd prize), Anurag Sharma (3rd prize). The event was followed by Nukkad Natak on the theme of environment by the students of DPS Dwarka.

“If we go on the way we have, the fault is our greed and if we are not willing to change, we will disappear from the face of the globe, to be replaced by the insect! – Jacques Cousteau.

How true and disconcerting is the above statement! Questions like “Will there be food for everyone by 2050?; “Will there be enough clean water?”; “Will the air be fresh enough to breathe?” are ringing alarm bells.

It is in this scenario that a massive environment movement has begun and it has displayed remarkable strength and intelligence. It has battled heroically to safeguard the world’s health, diversity and beauty and it has been astonishingly successful.