RANCHI: On July 13, 2024, the novices and sisters, together with the house staff, had the joy of planting different kinds of vegetable seeds. This was to respond to the promotion of regenerative agriculture through community gardens to restore local ecosystems and support biodiversity.
The novices were excited to plant the various kinds of seeds; moreover, each one of them got the opportunity to plant the seeds to heed the call of the earth to nurture a sustainable future.
H.C. AUXILIUM R.K. PURAM: The English Recitation Competition for Class II was held on 19th July 2024. The theme for the competition was “Seasons”. It provided an opportunity for students to perform on stage. Shrugging off their inhibitions, students explored the beauty and diversity of different seasons of the year through their respective poems.
A total of 30 students participated from all four sections of Class 2. The esteemed judges Ms. Aruna Mukerji and Ms.Tresa Dixon judged the students on their diction, expression, confidence, and choice of poem. The students performed remarkably well. The English Recitation Competition was a fruitful exposure for the students of Class II to foster a sense of confidence and knowledge about the Seasons.
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 MIRIK: Auxilium, Mirik, organized a plantation drive on 22 July 2024. The staff and the boarders with great enthusiasm planted plantlets in the garden, fostering a deeper connection with nature and promoting environmental awareness. By actively participating in this eco-friendly initiative, the children learnt that trees play a vital role in protecting our environment against pollution and global warming.
AUXILIUM- BARASAT: An Inter-house “One Act Play Competition” was held at Auxilium Convent School Barasat on 16 July 2024 with the theme “Ecology”: The Green House gave a message on ‘Save Forests’ highlighting the interconnectedness between animals and trees; Red House underscored the success story of a girl who was instrumental in saving ‘The Lost Playground’; Blue House instead focused on the self-giving of ‘The Apple Tree’ for the good of others, and the Yellow House showcased the importance of maintaining the balance in nature with the play titled ‘Echoes of Nature’. The members of the four houses made the audience aware of the ecological balance needed today to create a healthy environment.
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.
HC AUXILIUM- R.K. PURAM: Nature Walk Week was initiated in Holy Child Auxilium School from 15- 20 July, offering students of classes 3, 4, and 5 an opportunity to explore and connect with nature within the school premises. The students enjoyed their morning walks, taking in the fresh air and listening to chirping of the birds. As they strolled through the school grounds, they came across saplings planted by the eco-club members, learning about the importance of herbal plants and gaining insight into their uses and benefits. The teachers introduced the students to various types of trees, their name and their importance in the ecosystem. Through this initiative, the school intended to inspire a love for nature, promote environmental awareness and encourage students to become caretakers of our planet.
SNEHADAN, BAREILLY: The boarders at Snehadhan, Bareilly participated in a valuable eco-friendly activity focused on waste management, composting, and sustainable gardening practices. They learned about recycling and reusing natural materials by collecting organic waste and creating organic compost manure, promoting healthier soil and plant growth. This hands-on experience taught them valuable lessons about responsible waste management, sustainability, and environmental stewardship.
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