Praful Rao

http://savethehills.blogspot.com

January 8th, 2008
Kalimpong

ATREE (Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment), Darjeeling (supported by the Ministry of Environment and Forests) has organized a 30 day Vacation Program on Natural Resources for school children. The children are camping at the Agri-Horticulture Demo Farm run by the Cluny Sisters, at Pudung, Kalimpong and under the charge of Ms Reena Chhetri of Darjeeling. 34 children from schools in Darjeeling and Kalimpong are attending the program.

Reena had given me a one day slot for the landslide awareness workshop and the day began at 0900hrs with a power point presentation in the class room. Thereafter, after an early lunch, the entire day was spent visiting a number of landslide zones in and around Kalimpong in 3 vehicles hired for the purpose.

The children interacted with affected people, saw for themselves the devastation caused by the Sep2007 rains and were shown jhora training work.Both in and out of the class room many, many issues relating to climate change and protection of the environment were discussed. All in all the children enjoyed themselves.

However, besides the enjoyment factor, I am satisfied that at the end of the day I left behind 34 young ambassadors of savethehills who are aware of the fragility of our beautiful mountains and the urgent need to protect it.

(Original post and additonal pictures at this link)