Sreeja Ganguly, a student of Class VI at BDM International, hands paper bags to the owner of a grocery store in her neighbourhood as part of her summer vacation project
Students of a school were asked to grow plants, make paper bags and distribute them among shops in their neighbourhood and make posters on the need to protect the environment and use them to raise awareness via social media during their summer vacation.
Students of Classes VI, VII and VIII of BDM International have been doing these activities during the holidays in the run-up to World Environment Day on June 5.
The school came up with these simple tasks for the children so that they can do them on their own, without any help from the adults.
“The idea was that the children should raise awareness among the adults around them,” a teacher said.
“There are 2,200 students in Classes VI, VII and VIII combined. Their collective effort will make a difference,” said Madhumita Seal, vice principal, BDM International.
The students went to the shops in their neighbourhood and distributed paper bags that they made themselves, requesting the owners not to use plastic bags.
“A student visiting a store and distributing paper bags will force the owners to give it a thought. Even if the owners do not use the paper bags, we can at least hope that they will try not to use plastic bags as much as possible,” said a teacher.
The students also ran a social media campaign through posters that they made themselves. They circulated the posters among their relatives and friends via social media to raise awareness.
“It generates a greater impact when children try to teach adults. The adults become conscious and make an attempt to follow what the children are trying to teach them,” said Seal.
The students have been recording their activities and sending them to their teachers. The videos will be uploaded on the social media pages of the school.
Class VIII student Swarnavo Sinha has planted different plants in his garden.
“For the sake of our own future, we have to protect the biodiversity on this planet. As a student, the least I can do is to plant some trees and water them regularly,” said Swarnavo.