Earth day 2016
EARTH DAY REPORT- 22nd April 2016
Like every year children of Dhirubhai Ambani International School, decided to take a pledge to make a lifestyle change that would impact not only those within the school but also the community outside of the school. Theme of this year’s Earth Day was decided in keeping with the current water crisis faced by the state.
Theme: The water crisis in Maharashtra has resulted in a drought like condition in most parts of the state. The impending outcome of this drought set off alarm bells with those who are directly or indirectly affected. It thus become imperative that the focus be transferred towards conservation of water and to build awareness that each one of us has the power to make a difference to this situation. Now and for the future.
Thus the theme for this Earth day was "Do your bit! Save Water".
Activities were initiated on 22nd April and children pledged continue their efforts till they could create an impact around them.
Activities: The activities were planned to create maximum awareness and impact:
Message from the Cub Captains:
On 22nd April the cub captains conveyed a special message to the entire school through the PA system the entire school about the water issue and how each one can make a difference by making small adjustments in the manner in which they use water.
They motivated their peers to take this cause forward by spreading the message and taking action before it's too late!
"Walking Poster" Campaign: In School.
Children of primary and middle school core activities (Round Square and Art), CCA (Nature club, Environment Club, Computers, Art etc) prepared posters based on the theme. The posters had methods and suggestions on how to reduce water waste. They then walked around the school campus with these posters during break and lunch time, talking to as many students as they could to take action to save water. The uniqueness of this made students stop and ask question, discuss and understand the theme better. This was conducted at the Atrium, near water fountains (where children refill their bottles), outside the LC, washrooms, gardens, grounds, faculty rooms etc.
"Walking Poster" Campaign: Outside the School.
In order to extend this awareness to people outside the school, our high school children carried this message on the streets around the school. They walked on the footpath talking to office goers, stood at traffic signals with posters for the motorists, stood outside restaurants talking to patrons, to passers-by urging them to help in the process of saving water by taking small actions at work and at home. They shared easy to implement ideas to reduce water waste eg: don't take shower baths – take a bucket bath, close the tap when scrubbing your hands or brushing your teeth, fix leaky taps, don't fill up the waster glass – take only as much as you want to drink, pour left over water into the plants, try and install a water recycling plant in their homes and office building etc.
Earth Day Poster:
With the help of the Art teachers a huge banner was prepared by the children of primary school with the message "Save Water, Save earth". This was hung at a prominent location so that everyone who entered the school could see it.
Take a Pledge:
Big blank banners were placed in the Atrium and outside the learning centre for children to write their pledges on how they would be saving water. Nature club and Round Square children conducted this activity, encouraging their peers to participate and write their pledge. Many children promised to alter their habits to help save water.
Made a difference within the school:
The school also adopted various methods to reduce the water waste within their premises:
- - Aerators are being installed in each tap to ensure that use of water becomes more efficient by using less of it.
- - Reducing the water pressure from the water mains resulted in around 30% reduction in overall water usage.
- - Efforts are on to divert the water waste from the drinking water fountains and diverting them to the flush or gardening system
Community Outreach:
Children of IB CAS took these ideas and visited the local police station, offices and restaurants around the area. They spoke to the management and administrators and shared the above suggestions with them, made presentations and shared video demonstrations with them about the switch over of the water system. They urged the stake bearers of the offices to collectively help make a difference.