Tree plantation drive instills passion for sustainability among students
The staff and students of Don Bosco Junior College Yerwada, Pune, in collaboration with the NGO Being Volunteer, participated in a Tree Plantation Drive at Mahalunge Forest Land on July 15 with the goal of instilling a passion for sustainability in students to make the world a better place.
One hundred and thirty-four students and 11 dedicated teachers planted 500 saplings. The Being Volunteer team had dug the pits and made the necessary preparations. The students planted the saplings in groups and cleared the area of all types of plastic waste with the assistance of their teachers and volunteers. The NGO, Being Volunteer, believes every human being has an innate desire to do something for another. The NGO seeks to foster a culture of volunteerism in which individual volunteers serve as positive change agents to build a nation where the haves and the have-nots collaborate to create a beautiful world.
Mr Ajinkya Parke, the captain of the Junior College, proudly stated, "I am fortunate to be a part of this mission by Don Bosco and will continue to be a part of such important and interesting projects in the future as well”. Ms Rachael Ullagaddi said, "The tree plantation drive gives the feeling of accomplishing something worthwhile. Even in small ways, we can make a difference for the environment. It feels good to know that I helped the earth”.
Through the planting of trees drive Don Bosco Junior College assisted their students in understanding the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), which are the blueprint for achieving a better and more sustainable future for all. SDG 11 aims to "Make cities and human settlements more inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable". Meanwhile, SDG 15 seeks to "Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss”. Mr Kailas Narwade, the founder of Being Volunteer, praised Don Bosco Junior College for incorporating Green Initiative Projects into their youth outreach activities.
The students enjoyed a day in the beauty of nature as they picked up life lessons outside the classroom. The students were taught the tree dance, a fun activity they thoroughly enjoyed. The collaboration between the students and teachers in making Mother Earth appear a little greener was a huge success.