Earthian-Paryavaran Mitra Programme
Teachers training workshop was conducted by CEE North in Patna and Bettiah district which was attended by over 137 teachers. The aim of the workshop is to guide teachers to take up sustainability education in their schools. Teachers were guided to select any one theme from Water, Biodiversity and Waste to take up a action research with a group of children. Resource booklets, activity worksheets and games were shared with teachers to help them conduct activities.
Schools will take up three month long project with students covering their campus and surrounding area. Each school team was guided to document their experience in a form of report which will be further evaluated for State and national level awards.
Ganges River Dolphin Conservation Education Programme - School Component
CEE North selected 10 dolphin locations from the State to facilitate school education activities in partnership with Education and Forest Department and local NGO. The 10 locations in Bihar were Supaul, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, Bagaha and Bettiah (West Champaran), East Champaran, Muzafarpur, Gopalganj, Patna and Saran. At each location, cluster of 25-35 schools were formed which were located in 3-5 kms range from river Ganga or its tributaries. Total 358 schools were included in the programme. In each dolphin school, a teacher in charge was identified and trained with the help of set of resource material. Teacher was guided to form a dolphin club including 40-50 children. Each dolphin club conducted year long awareness activities in school campus and in community.
As part of Dolphin programme, school clusters of different location in Bihar organized cluster level events which included dolphin awareness rally, nukkat natak, cycle rally, save dolphin - save ganga pledge campaign, etc. Dolphin schools along with local NGO and other partners organized dolphin awareness activities on environment related days on different environment days like Dolphin Day and on occasion of river related festivals. The cluster level awareness programmes were held in all dolphin locations including Supaul, Begusarai, Bhagalpur, West Champaran, Gopalganj, Patna, east Champaran and Muzafarpur, Bagaha and Saran in Bihar. In some of the dolphin awareness activities competitions were conducted including essay writing and painting competition, quiz competition etc. Schools were taken to exposure visits at river bank, fun and learn activities were conducted. More than 1500 children from dolphin clubs took part in this event where many of them have creatively expressed their thoughts about dolphins in form of model, drawing, song, poem etc.
Dolphin Camp cum Mela at Valmiki
CEE North in collaboration with Vamiki Tiger Reserve, Division II, Bihar Forest Department, Bettiah organized two days national level Dolphin Mela cum Camp. The objective of the event was to raise awareness about the national symbol and to convey the message of river conservation. This unique camp cum mela was attended by more than 400 participants coming from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar including students, teachers, NGOs, tharu community, govt. officials and other key stakeholders of the programme. First day was devoted for camp where students, NGOs and forest officials took trail of the reserve and observed biodiversity of river and forest. In the event, students and partner organizations showcased various models, posters, paintings, poems, pebble paintings, songs, dance performances for raising awareness on conservation of endangered species found in rivers and forests . At the occasion, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF India), Forest Department, Eco Development Committees (EDCs) setup exhibitions on community led initiatives on conservation of forest and rivers.
School Eco Club Action (SECA)
The SECA Project was initiated by CEE from the financial assistance of US Consulate Kolkata where programme was conducted in 5 schools of Patna by CEE North. By understanding the critical role of students in motivating their own school, neighbourhood and larger society to bring about change, CEE implemented the SECA project to develop confidence and build the skills and abilities of students by grooming their leadership qualities.
The project was focused on action oriented activities in the field of waste management, recycling, greening & biodiversity, natural resource conservation, renewable energy and traditional knowledge towards environmental conservation and protection. In Bihar, project was implemented in 5 Eco-club school of Patna with the objective of increasing awareness and action on energy and environment conservation, waste management and biodiversity conservation through training and school-based activities. The students and schools were oriented and facilitated for their contribution to reduce carbon footprints through inculcating the habit of recycling, greenery development and rainwater harvesting.
An orientation programme and expert talks were done in school to help student develop insight on current environmental issues to motivate the Young Leaders to identify the local environmental issues and develop action based operational models/projects on waste management, energy and natural resource conservation, renewable energy, biodiversity and greening etc. in the school/community. The project was also focused on building the capacity of teachers to impart Environment and Sustainability Education and build a platform between school and community through some community based campaigns taken up by the schools under the project. Two action projects were shortlisted from the all five school and proper assistance was provided to them to implement their action project.
Established as a Centre of Excellence of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India.
