To raise awareness about environmental protection and plan engagements for Earth Day and World Environment Day, a gathering was organized at the premises of Gitika Trust on March 30th, 2018. We interacted with children, as young as 4 to as mature as a 10 year old, belonging to first generation school going families to understand environmental consciousness among them. The understanding of environment was primarily based on their observations of the natural world ranging from the "blue skies" to riverine ecosystems harboring "fishes, tadpoles, algae and floating plants".
After this initial interaction, breakfast was served and we explained to the children the concept of food chain and how nature nourishes life forms. The children understood that resources are scarce and were made aware of how to care for the environment & conserve natural resources. The interaction with children was filled with enthusiasm, and their spontaneity was translated in their own canvas.
The vivid colors and simplistic representations clearly indicated, that adults unnecessarily complicate things. Surely how difficult is it to throw trash in designated bins, instead of littering! The future seems brighter, if young minds are engaged with environmental conservation activities. Their visual representations showcases either the idyllic scenario of verdant vegetation or the grim reality of unplanned urbanization and alarming pollution levels. We leave you with nine year old Dipti's vision of a clean environment, confirming our belief that the children are responsive to environmental education and if adequately equipped with accurate knowledge, they will emerge as champions of environmental conservation.