Green Young Champions

An orientation session on the project “‘Creating Young Green Champions for a responsible Citizen’s Force to link with the Commonwealth Games’ was organized today by Future Generations Arunachal (FGA) in Itanagar for the schools participating in the project to coincide with the Queen’s Baton Relay in the city on July 22 and 23, 2010. Representatives of the teachers and the students attended the session in the FGA office.

Eight schools including Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (Nirjuli), Kingcup Public School, (Itanagar), JNK Public School (Itanagar), Arunudaya Higher Secondary School (Itanagar), Government Middle School (Niti Vihar, Itanagar), Green Mount Public School (Itanagar), Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya (Chimpu) and Government Middle School (P Sector) are participating in the program. The students will prepare posters on low carbon practices and take out rallies on the routes of the Queens Baton Relay in Naharlagun and Itanagar. In addition, they will plant trees in the schools and other public places in order to create awareness on low carbon lifestyle among the communities.

The XIX Commonwealth Games are scheduled to be held in New Delhi from 3-14 October 2010. As the host of the Commonwealth Games (CWG), the Govt. of Delhi has committed itself to hosting “Green Games” by inducing behavioral change towards low carbon practices. Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Small Grants Program (SGP) partners join the Delhi Government in taking this endeavour forward. FGA is coordinating the project in Arunachal Pradesh.

Earlier in the month, Mone Gurung and Pura Aiya, both FGA staff, had attended the training program on the project in Guwahati organized by the Center for Environment Education (CEE) - North East.

The project, by involving the students and teachers, aims to create awareness on low carbon practices in the cities along the Queen’s Baton Relay Route all over India. It will also prepare students from schools across states in India to act as young environment ambassadors with a special focus on the low carbon practices and sensitizing public at large at places about sustainable lifestyle practices in cities along the route of the Commonwealth Games Queens Baton Relay (QBR). The participating teachers, students and the institutions will get certificates in creating the Young Green Champions (YGCs).