Nivaro Cerceno from Panama works on the windows of a eco-hut. Telegraph picture

Patna, April 6: Discharging social responsibility during their learning process, four students from Zamorano University in Honduras, central America, worked indefatigably for three months in Patna and neighbouring rural areas to campaign for electricity conservation.

Students of economics and environment engineering, Yanira Pech from Belize, Nivaro Cerceno from Panama, Alberto Quintana from Mexico and Luis Huezo from El Salvador arrived at Tarumitra Bioreserve on January 11, 2011.

(From left) Alberto Quintana, Yanira Pech, Luis Huezo and Nivaro Cerceno at the Tarumitra Ashram. Telegraph picture

“On our arrival in Mumbai on January 2, a few foreigners told us that Patna is not a very safe city but frankly speaking none of us ever felt it that way throughout our three-month-long stay here,” said 24-year-old Nivaro from Panama. Working in close co-ordination with staff guide from Tarumitra, Margaret Molomoo, the young interns reached out to nearly 30 high schools and colleges in Bihar.

“We held numerous interactive sessions with over 5,000 students from schools in Patna, Ara and Barh towns to spread awareness on electricity conservation and propagated the usage of CFL and LED lamps instead of conventional bulbs. Besides, we also urged students to develop the habit of putting off electric appliances as and when possible, wherein majority of the students pledged to follow it,” said 22-year-old Yanira from Belize.

While all four students admired the education system in schools in Bihar and the level of response and acceptance among the students, they also felt need of elementary education and awareness on energy conservation. They also felt teachers should act more responsibly in such areas as they are the role models for children.