Dear Jothi & the Ashadeep Team,
 

Congratulations of the successful initiation and execution of this competition to spread awareness among the students of schools in the area on environmental issues that affect all of us and the entire globe.

I  share a little in the joy, you bring to your work. Especially in creating newer and newer avenue's to reach out to the young (youth).

Fr Bowling remembers your slide program of DNC with admiration. One day while I was going about the campus with my camera, he mentioned, there was a scholastic not many years ago who prepared a very innovative program on DNC, that opened our eyes to the beauty that we take for granted. He was referring to you.

I too enjoy the beauty of DNC and the enviorns. My camera is always by my side to capture these eternal, manifestations of God's grandeur.

God bless you and the enitre Ashadeep Team.

Keith sj

 

YOUTH FOR ENVIRONMENT

Climatecampers and Gujarat Jesuit Youth Movement organized a state level one day workshop titled ‘Youth for Environment’ on 8th of November 2010 at Ankur Farm, Vadtal. More than one hundred and sixty youth came from different parts of Gujarat participated actively in the workshop. After an eco-prayer dance by Ankur students, Sr. Meena from Sandyadeep convent, Vadtal inaugurated the workshop by planting a tree. Fr. Jothi Xavier, the organizer of the workshop welcomed all the participants. Fr.Ashok Vaghela then inaugurated the Gujarat Jesuit Youth Movement website (www.gjym.org) designed by Ronak Makwana, a volunteer from GJYM. Rajubhai from Jeevantirth began the workshop with the lively group activity which made each one reflect on the importance of earth our home. Bro. Suresh gave a scientific explanation in a lucid manner on global warming and green house effect.

In the second session, the youth were exposed to various green movements and way of life. Fr. Rappai spoke with conviction using visuals and music the importance of green way of life, respect for nature, and inspired the youth to join any green movements to make positive difference. Fr. Mathew spoke in a livid and logical manner explaining to the students how all type of energy comes basically from Sun and that we need to tap that energy using Solar equipments.  Fr. Lancy D’Cruz spoke from the heart on the importance of the role of religion in protecting our mother earth.

After the lunch, the youth performed various skits, songs on the same theme of the environment. As part of the cultural program, two Ankur students Kalpit and Ruchit screened a documentary on the tree cutting in Anand and Kheda districts. The documentary showed how the timber lobby is bent on wiping down the ‘last standing tree’ in this part of Gujarat. In the last session, Sachin introduced the topic for the group discussion and Fr. Ashok Vaghela did the last best thing by inspiring the students to come out with one basic issue for one big campaign. That is to campaign for stoping the wastage of water/electricity in our home and cities and the locality we have selected for campaign is Anand, Gamdi and Padhariya. There are more than thirty students who have signed up to plan the strategy for the campaign. The success of the workshop has inspired us to make this workshop as an annual event.     

a green initiative from ashadeep, vvnagar 

 

Environmental and Art Workshops for the Students

 

Our involvement with innovative education such as Ankur program has made us keenly aware of the need for environmental and art education. Thus we have been conducting workshops for the school and college students of Anand and Kheda Districts of Gujarat. We have been conducting these workshops in our farm house situated near Vadtal railway station. We are developing this piece of land as a bio-reserve consisting of diverse trees, medicinal plants, organic vegetable farming and a place blooming with nature. We plan to achieve this with the involvement and collaboration of the students who attend our workshops.  

(latest from cliamtecampers)

 

GREEN EARTH WITHOUT PLASTICS: CLIMATE CAMPERS SAY NO TO PLASTICS

To protest against the plastic bags and other plastic things, in collaboration with social work students Climatecampers have successfully concluded a rally in which more than 400 students from various schools and colleges had participated at Sastri ground in Vidyanagar. The theme of the rally was: Green Earth Without Plastics.

 The rally was inaugurated by Mr. Dhaval Patel, the founder of the Vidyanagar nature club. He inspired the students not to use plastic articles and to plant more and more trees. On this occasion a leaflet explaining the ill effects of plastic and how it is hazardous to the environment was released and this was done by Komal Kanthariya, a lecturer of Department of Social Work. The leaflet was distributed to all so that they can get the message more effectively.

 There was an exhibition of posters, T- shirts and other modules so that   people can come to know about the recent environmental crisis. The whole rally was a great success in terms of spreading the message and the students had a great zest to speak out slogans in their loud voices. It is a big call to all of us to say no to plastics.

 The rally was well organized by the climatecampers members, MSW students and all environment loving people. We thank each and every one for their contribution to save the earth. (see the photo gallery for the media coverage of the event)