Handicraft Training for Tribal group of Dudhwa, UP

CEE North as part of its sustainable livelihood interventions organized a three- month basic level training programme on making of carpets, wall hangings and other handicraft items for Tharu community of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.Tharu community is a tribe listed in the scheduled tribe category. The tribe is residing  on the fringe of the protected area and have dependency on the forest resources for food, fodder and fuel.

The programme was inaugurated on 19th October by Hon'ble Member of Parliament Shri Jafar Ali Naqvi at village Goubraula, Lakhimpur Kheri.

CEE North is working in the selected cluster of villages focusing on natural resource management and sustainable livelihood interventions which aims at minimizing the dependency of the tribe from the forest resource and to enhance their skills for income generation.  Various interventions related to alternative energy options, improvement in farming methods and livestock management linked with other livelihood options.

In his inaugural address, he appreciated the efforts of the institutions who have come forward and are working with Tharu community to not only improvise their income generation status but are also contributing to conservation efforts for the area.

Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India Limited (TRIFED), New Delhi , (Ministry of Tribal Affairs Govt. of India), has supported the training programme and WWF Terai Arc and Forest Department joined hand with CEE to organize this programme. Around 50 members were involved in the programme where 20 lead Tharu women participants went through this intensive training.

Ms. Sangeeta Mahendra, Regional Manager TRIFED, who was introduced to the group in 2007 for promoting handicrafts expressed, during the concluding ceremony, that the products prepared by the women group can be definitely made marketable, and that there is a lot of scope to bring in lot more innovations. The products prepared by the group during the programme will be taken to Delhi where market trials will be done, and based on the response, further order for products will be placed.

Children Forest Programme (CFP)  

CFP is a programme to develop green campus and to introduce environmental education to create better school environment. The programme focuses on schools - children, teachers, school management and local community.

CFP was initiated in year 1991 by OISCA an international NGO from Japan . The programme is presently being implemented in 27 developing countries. In India , CFP programme is reaching to 1550 schools of various States. CEE North has been selected as one of the agency to implement this five year long programme.

In Uttar Pradesh, CFP is being introduced in five districts under Uttar Pradesh Participatory Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation Project (UP-PFMPAP) of UP Forest Department supported by JICA where 100 schools will be selected from each district..

The programme began with selection of schools where CEE in consultation with Department of Education, NGC and other school networks identified first batch of 35 schools. Schools with boundary wall, space for plantation for at least 100 saplings, required water supply and willingness to join the programme has been identified with a preference to rural area schools.

Groups of students being the core action group called ‘Balvan Samooh

'The 'Balvan Samooh' group is being given orientation by CEE team, by conducting various outdoor activities to help them understand the programme and the importance of trees and forests.

For the next rounds of activities, CEE is planning a nature tour programme for children, and teacher training on integrating the activities with the curriculum. A set of educational material is also being developed for the schools focusing on ecosystem services, climate change and forests, as well as Environment Day calendar.

On the request from UP Forest Department, CEE has developed a logo for the Children Forest Programme which is being well appreciated by each group. Year 2011 being the International Year of Forests (IYF) brings the required focus to the initiative.

Community Participation i n Sanitation Awareness Assessment Action for (SAAAF) School Campaigns

CEE AP has implemented a SAAAF School Campaigns programme in 300 government schools of Medak district, spread over in 22 mandals, with the support of UNICEF and District Education Department during 2008-2010.

One-day SAAAF camps were organized in 300 schools by NGO partners.

In about 40 percent of the schools parents, community and Sarpanchs have participated actively in the campaigns. The campaign includes assessment of the existing water and sanitation facilities and development of action plans and initiation of necessary actions. The campaigns concluded in December.The community contribution in taking up necessary actions in the school are as follows:

In 40 percent of the schools, community was involved in improving water and sanitation facilities by constructing or repairing the facilities to schools.

  • Out of 40 percent in 20 percent schools community protected the schools from vandalism or water in the gardens in the schools.
  • In 3 percent of the schools community raised the funds to repair the sanitation facilities.
  • In some schools community cleaned the bushes near the toilets facilities.

Awareness Programme for Vendors around Hussain Sagar

CEE Andhra Pradesh State Office in association with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is implementing the “ Hussain Sagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project (HSL & CAIP)” project.

The participants included vendors selling corn, tea, ice creams, cool drinks, other food items (both fast food and packed items), fancy materials etc. around the lake.

The objectives of this programme were to orient the vendors about the ‘No Plastics Campaign' around HSL, create awareness about the Solid Waste Management practices near the vending places and addressing the problems of vendors in terms of required facilities. Mr. M. J. Akbar, IFS , the Officer on Special Duty (OSD), Buddha Purnima Project ( BPP ), HMDA attended the programme and interacted with the vendors along with his staff. He assured the vendors that immediate action would be taken to address their problems.

As part of this project, an awareness programme was conducted for 200 vendors around the Hussain Sagar Lake (HSL) on 23 December, 2010 at Lumbini Park .

Training on Climate Change, Disaster Risk Reduction programme in Kashmir

The participants included Zonal and Cluster Resource persons, responsible for Teachers' capacity building in their zones, SSA Coordinator of Idgah zone and Headmasters/Headmistresses form 44 schools

As a part of capacity building for Climate Change Education and Disaster Risk Reduction in Kashmir, two trainings for the Trainers and Teachers from Idgah and Nishat Education zones of Srinagar district were held from 13-16 December. In addition to climate change and disaster risk reduction modules, the participants also learned about 'Paryavaran Mitra' (PM) programme.

Paryavaran Mitra activities

Paryavaran Mitra at Kankaria Carnival 2010, Ahmedabad Gujarat

The weeklong Kankaria Carnival 2010 kicked off in Ahmedabad on the 25 th of December. The theme of the carnival this year was ‘Bharat Jodo' with tableau representing the many facets of Indian culture and identity. Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ( AMC ) organizes this mega event which attracts thousands of people. every year from 25 to 31 December at the Kankaria Lake.

Paryavaran Mitra was showcased at this event where students and teachers worked together with the CEE West team for five Paryavaran Mitra themes of Water, Energy, Waste Management, Culture & Heritage, and Biodiversity.

The Waste Management tableau prepared and represented by Sheth CN Vidyalaya carried messages focusing on the volume of waste created and the importance of segregation. The water tableau was done by FD High School stressing water conservation by focusing on the importance of every drop of water where students showed up dressed as water droplets. The Energy tableau prepared by Vishwa Bharti School showcased the switch to CFL bulbs instead of the conventional ones and maximize the use of solar energy for sundrying and solar cooker. The biodiversity tableau prepared by Sheth Amulakh School was about Conservation of Biodiversity by bringing attention to the local flora and fauna of Gujarat . The Culture and Heritage tableau was prepared and represented by Anand Niketan School , Satellite and showcased living culture through a Chabutara, Jaalis, and students performing folk dance at the carnival.

Paryavaran Mitra Orientation Programme for NGOs

A two-day orientation workshop was organized by CEE North aimed at training the partner NGO teams who will be involved in the implementation of Paryavaran Mitra programme. During the programme, district level action plan was prepared. Each NGO developed their own strategy for the selected district/s for implementing the programme, and submitted a proposal to CEE. 6 NGO partners have been identified. They will cover 12 districts ( Allahabad , Auriaya, Barabanki, Gorakhpur , Itawah, Kanpur , Maharajganj, Sant kabir Nagar, Siddarth Nagar, Unnao and Varanasi ), which in turn will reach out to 1200 schools. Around 15 NGO members attended the orientation programme.

The plan includes enrollment of 100 schools, orientation workshop for teachers, school- level activities, and an event.

Paryavaran Mitra programme in Kashmir

Through special session, PM programme was introduced, the implementation strategy was shared, a recap on NGC programme, activities done through eco-clubs and success stories were shared with the participants. Role of NGC Nodal and Resource agencies in PM programme implementation was clarified. PM booklet was shared and discussed. The Urdu draft of PM booklet was also field tested during the session and comments are being incorporated in the Urdu version. Low Carbon Lifestyles kit was also shared and discussed during the TOTs.

A special session for Paryavaran Mitra Programme at Kashmir

The participants also provided their observations on local climate change and its impact on agriculture, water, local weather and snow cover through a simple questionnaire designed for this purpose.

Regional Launch of Paryavaran Mitra programme at Pune by Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

Paryavaran Mitra launch by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, with students and partner organizations from 4 states.
Paryavaran Mitra Ambassador with the students at their project stalls

Student Amateur School Yard Agriculture, Warangal

CEE Andhra Pradesh State Office with support from UNICEF and State Education Department is implementing the project ‘Student Amateur School Yard Agriculture' SASYA, in 17 schools spread over 8 mandals in Warangal district from September, 2010 to February, 2011.

Students committee managing the SASYA garden

The main objectives of the project is Demonstration of Bio Intensive Gardens in schools this includes improving the school environment quality through development of Bio Intensive Gardens, providing an opportunity for students to learn by doing, improving the nutrition standards by providing organically grown vegetables for mid-day meals and demonstrating organic cultivation to the community by utilizing the school as a demonstration plot.

Bio Intensive Gardens have been initiated in all 17 schools and 10 varieties of seeds including the leafy vegetables are being grown in the schools, with support from the teachers and the local community members. Student committees have been formed to take care and manage the gardens under the supervision of the concerned teacher/head master. A wall magazine is being developed to keep the students informed about the importance of organic farming and Bio Intensive Gardens.


National Green Corps Teachers Training Workshops

In Sajapur, Mr.Joseph Kujur, CEE delivered a lecture on themes of Paryarvaran Mitra Programme to the participants and distributed the PM Pamplets to participants

Under the National Green Corps National Green Core (NGC) Teachers Training Workshops (TTW) for Eco Club Incharges are being implemented across the state of Madhya Pradesh. EPCO as a nodal agency for the programme organized the TTW on 8-9 December.2010 at district Sajapur and on 14-15 Dec.2010 at district Vidisha M.P. In both the TTW more then 400 teachers were present. CEE MP State Office, as a resource agency of the NGC in the state, participated the TTW.

.In Vidisha district Mr.Dilip Chakravarty, CEE briefed on the oriented the PM programme. The national wide Paryarvaran Mitra programme will be implemented in 50 districts with 250 NGC schools in each district. The CEE MP State Office focuses on a target of reaching 12,500 NGC schools in Madhya Pradesh through this programme.
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CEE