Green Champs of Global North-South Challenge Climate Crisis

An Indo – German Student Exchange Programme for Eco-Education and Action

The Students of Don Bosco School of Excellence, Coimbatore, India and Norbert Gymnasium, Dormagen, Germany joined hands to learn about the impact of climate change and take up challenges to reduce their carbon footprint. The eco clubs of both schools had an introductory workshop in their respective schools, to understand climate change, the global North-South divide, climate justice, the carbon footprint of individuals and nations, etc. Then two days of virtual interaction between the members of the eco clubs. There were fun games, sharing on cultural richness, food habits and daily routine, and then they shifted their focus to the climate crisis and how humans influenced climate change, damaging the ecosystem. They also broke out into rooms in a group of five or six comprising both Indian and German students to enhance participation. As an outcome, they drew up a ‘Challenge-Days Plan’ for the next ten days. These days they challenged themselves, both personally and as a group, to change their behaviour in favour of the environment, reducing their carbon footprint. The green activities concentrated on water usage, transport mode, food choice, meeting with farmers, visiting rich biodiversity spots, and many more. For many, this was their first experience. On the final day, the two schools met again, discussed the impact of the green exercises, and evaluated the entire exchange programme. The green champions are now determined to be active participants in protecting the common home and want to be green ambassadors among their peers and families.

The exchange programme was organized and facilitated jointly by the Don Bosco School of Excellence, Coimbatore, Don Bosco Mission, Bonn and CAUVERI (INT) who are all active members in the worldwide Salesian network Don Bosco Green Alliance.