Young Crusaders to Protect Kolkata’s Biodiversity

ASED is a non-profit making organization working on biodiversity enhancement through public awareness, action research and people’s participation. We were able to create a small pool of funds for our project, “Young Crusaders Protect Kolkata’s Biodiversity” as part of the Global Giving Green Challenge. We thank you for your support. On three consecutive Sunday afternoons, starting 21 November 2010 till 5December 2010, ASED conducted a biodiversity awareness camp in Kolkata in collaboration with Anando, an NGO working with disadvantaged children, focusing on issues of child protection recreation and education. 16 girls and boys studying in middle-school and belonging to economically disadvantaged families participated in the camp which was held at the Sishu Mela Vidyalaya in Jadavpur, Kolkata with a field study in the near by Bikramgarh jheel. The teachers associated with Anando also participated in the camp. Kushal Mookherjee, Resource Person and Indrajit Mullick, Programme Associate conducted the camp from ASED. Gitanjali Ghosh, Director of Anando was an enthusiastic facilitator for the camp. On the first day Kushal conducted a slide-illustrated talk on the “Biodiversity of West Bengal” “and explained to the participants the need to protect our biodiversity. The young campers received a booklet developed by ASED containing list of common birds and trees and the how to identify them. On the second day, they were taken around the Bikramgarh Jheel (just behind the South City Complex) which is a large waterbody. They were taught how to identify the plant and animal life present there. On the final day the participants played nature games “Who am I” and “Web of Life” to understand the interdependence in nature. They shared their ideas about the need to protect Kolkata’s biodiversity. One camper wrote a poem on protecting the Jheel! A project to regularly study the biodiversity around the Jheel was initiated with the group in which ASED will help whenever required. A Nature Study diary was presented to the young participants. Refreshments were given to the participants for every session. The students and teachers who participated in the camp have become excited and enthusiastic about protecting Kolkata’s biodiversity! We thank our donors for their support and we will be conducting another nature study camp with the remaining funds available.