KSSDS: On July 22nd, 2024, an engaging and informative session on ecological education was held for the students of Baidyanath Government Institution for Girls, Dum Dum. The session was conducted by Kolkata Salesian Sisters Development Society (KSSDS) coordinator Sr. Alma Bilung FMA, Sr. Anand Tirkey FMA and staff Miss Suzzane Shaw in collaboration with the Salesian co-operators Mr. Ashok Dolui and Mrs. Suchitra Gomes. The primary goal was to raise awareness about ecological issues and inspire students to take action for a sustainable future.
The students participated actively throughout the session. Various types of posters with vivid pictures were used to explain numerous ecological crises (global warming, pollution, deforestation, natural disasters) and their effects. The students were asked to depict the images and share them with the group. Later on, they were given detailed explanations of the depicted issues and discussed various steps that could be adopted to address the climate issues.
A significant focus of the session was on ‘litter less’ to achieve the Laudato Si’ goal of ecological education. The interactive nature of the session helped students understand the importance of diminishing waste and adopting eco-friendly practices. Later on, the students formed action plans for their community, school, class, and homes such as reducing waste, adopting the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), and keeping indoor plants. They also expressed their ideas through drawings and written notes on chart paper.
The session was efficacious and created a strong sense of ecological awareness among the students. The students took a strong commitment to implement positive environmental changes in their daily lives, paving the way for a sustainable future.
KOLKATA DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY: On July 20th, 2024, Auxilium Barasat hosted a significant event to promote sustainable livelihoods for poor and vulnerable families under the leadership of Sr. Alma, the Social Development Coordinator of the Kolkata Province. The event focused on distributing fruit trees to 70 needy families. This initiative aimed to achieve two important goals of ‘Laudato Si’: Responding to the cry of the earth and promoting an ecological economy.
The families gathered at the Auxilium Barasat were given a variety of mango and litchi trees, explaining the initiative’s benefits of enhancing local biodiversity and providing a source of nutritious fruits and potential income. This planting drive was part of a larger effort to support sustainable development in the region. This initiative also responds to the cry of the earth by promoting environmental stewardship and supports an ecological economy by providing sustainable resources to the families, thus ensuring economic stability while caring for our common home.
AUXILIUM-BARASAT: A poster-making competition was organised at Auxilium Convent School, Barasat on the 8th of July 2024 for the primary section (Class II-V) with the theme, ‘Let’s keep our air clean’. All the students participated in the competition. The objective of the competition was to make the students understand the role and importance of a pollution-free life. The students transformed their thoughts into depictions. The posters were wonderful and the principal appreciated the hard work and boosted their confidence.
AUXILIUM- BARASAT: The Primary students of Auxilium Convent School, Barasat celebrated World Environment Day to create awareness. Also, to take action for the protection of the environment. The 2024 edition of Environment Day focused on land restoration. Students tried to encourage their fellow mates through a short programme which primarily focused on planting trees and restoring the beauty of this earth by creating a plastic-free environment. The students conveyed their message through various creative works on waste materials and the importance of saving electricity and water. Students also prepared charts and placards to help everyone understand the importance of protecting the environment.
“Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.”
Awareness is the first step towards a greener, healthier and more developed society. Keeping this objective in mind Auxilium Convent School, Dum Dum organised a Cleanliness Awareness Drive, on 19 July 2024 intending to transform the society into a “developed” one. It was organized by the sisters, teachers and students of the school, and also the members of the Salesian family joined in this venture (Past pupils, cooperators, and ADMA).
The troubling condition of our green planet is evident all around us. The need of the hour is no longer words, but actions. The commencement of the drive had begun on the day when Principal Sr. Aruna Kispotta, the Environment Club moderator, Ms. Mow Das Roy, the club president, Shreyanshi Poddar accompanied by Sir Phalguni sought permission for this initiative from the North Dum Dum Municipality Chairperson, Shri Harendra Singh and sought assistance from the Officer in charge of the police of North Dum Dum Police Station for safe and successful completion of this drive. Following this, the Environmental Club initiated and coordinated a poster-making and slogan-making activity amongst the school students to make the awareness drive more impactful. The students made placards depicting themes of cleanliness, saving water, planting more trees and saying no to plastic.
On the 19th of July, 2024, the students of classes VI to XII initiated a walk in the locality to speak out against the ever-prevalent indifference meted out towards our environment. The large group with about 750 members were segregated into four groups and they proceeded to four different directions to raise awareness and spread the message of the drive. The awareness walk commenced at 8:30 am and went on until around 10:00 am
Group 1, walked through the streets of Kumar Para, Modern Park, Kamalapur tank, Digla Road, to Jessop Gate motivating the residents by reciting slogans: ‘Save water, save Earth’, ‘Go Green Live Green’, ‘Keep the area clean’ etc. The interviewers interrogated the locals regarding their contributions to the environment and the orators eloquently gave a speech on how to reduce the use the plastic and protect the environment, instead of exploiting it.
Group 2, took a route which passed through Gorabazar, PK Guha Road, SP Mukherjee Road and Barwari Tala to Jessop gate. Throughout the journey, they shouted various slogans like “Pedh lagao, desh bachao”, “Save water, save life” and “Jal hi jeevan hai” and held up placards encouraging and motivating the local population to foster cleaner personal and public practices. The students were enthusiastic throughout this walk.
Group 3, covered the street starting from P.K Guha Road, Debonair restaurant, and SBI bank and reached Jessop Gate. On the way, students shouted out slogans like ‘Save earth, save humanity’, ‘Go green, live green’, ‘Keep our earth green and clean’, Use dustbin’, ‘Keep the city clean’. The importance of protecting the environment was conveyed to everyone and the students while moving towards NC Mitra Road also spread awareness about the usefulness of water. Then the force moved to the Post Office Road, where the locals were motivated to foster social responsibility.
Group 4, passing the municipality hospital and the shops surrounding it, the students conveyed their ideas through various impactful slogans in Bengali and Hindi, which were made by the students. Some students had taken the responsibility to raise awareness among the shopkeepers about not using plastics, saving water and keeping our earth green and clean. Walking through the residential colonies and marketplace not only helped the students to spread awareness among the fellow residents and pedestrians, but also made them realize their goal, about keeping their localities clean and green.
All the groups reached their final destination, the ‘DhobiyaPukur Park’, where inspiring speeches were delivered by the president of the Past Pupil Association, Ms. Sangamitra Bhattacharya, the teachers and the students, spreading awareness about the entire initiative. The campaign was concluded as everyone joined in to sing the National Anthem. The pedestrians and local population were encouraged and motivated by this social motive.
A special thanks to Municipality Chairperson Shri Harendra Singh and Officer in charge Dum Dum Police Station for their cooperation and support for the protection and safety.
The students expressed their sincere gratitude to Sr. Superior, Sr. Principal, the sisters, teachers and the school authority for organizing such a motivating awareness drive, which not only fostered awareness about the burning social issues, but also initiated a step towards a greener, cleaner and healthier tomorrow.
Reported by Ms. Sayantika Mondel and Shreyanshi Poddar
AUXILIUM, SNEHALAYA: A summer camp was organised by Auxilium Snehalaya for underprivileged children, from 15th June to 24th June. They were offered various opportunities to engage in ecological justice and protection of the environment through activities singing, drawing, arts & crafts, fancy dress, speech, wall decoration, and best out of waste which ignited interest and enthusiasm in them. This camp offered them new skills and experiences and added moments of joy and celebration. These experiences left a lasting impact on their lives, encouraging creativity, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment.
AUXILIUM BARASAT: In today’s world, whether you are a student or a professional, various demands and pressures consume our daily lives. We often find ourselves not only physically tired but also mentally exhausted. Feelings of despair and depression can affect us. We also recognise that gardening is a highly beneficial activity for refreshing and promoting a pollution-free environment.
ACS Barasat has incorporated into the school curriculum 2024, gardening as part of the SUPW (Socially Useful Productive Work) to keep the students refreshed and rejuvenated.
With the support of the principal, the staff is delighted to involve students from VI to XII in the gardening initiative. Class VI: Chilli plant, VII-Tomato, VIII-Eggplant/Brinjal, IX-Chrysanthemum, X-Dahlia, XI- Gourd and Petunia and XII-Pumpkin+ Dianthus.
Through this entire procedure, students will learn to prepare ideal and suitable soil for trees and the technique of planting trees properly and nurturing them to grow.
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