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I have always loved walking on the grass field, watching nature and the birds, admiring the calming beauty. The wind breezing through hair, chirping of birds and the hustling of people working around. It makes me happy, and I am fresh, and energetic. This feeling of liveliness prompted me to bring the whole community together and enjoy the warmth of togetherness with the people around me. This motivated me to contribute to environmental development and sustainability as well. Our school has a strict discipline system, and anyone who is not in correct uniforms or violates code of conduct is punished, so much so that they have to clean the playground and remove the dead grass/thatches. I want to associate nature and environmental cleanliness as a positive experience and not an unpleasant punishment. I reached out to my teachers and classmates to see if anyone is interested in cleaning our school playground and garden, which is a cherished place for every kid in the school. I was happily surprised by the enthusiastic responses that greeted me.
For this clean up, everyone had such sharp eyes and spotted every little bit of plastic, pieces of glass, bits of papers and clothes, pen caps, etc. on the grass. We rooted out the dead grass and collected them in a number of spots, making huge heaps of grass mountains. We collected all the unwanted rubbish in our school’s big dustbins and were able to throw the garbage bags directly into the public bins. Sometimes it takes courage to be kind and this group activity showed that it is not that difficult, and with a bit of organization, it is possible to pick up rubbish everywhere we go.
Cleaning wasn’t just the end. A lot of students brought flower seeds so, after high requests, our principal and staff allowed all of us to sow and water them. The school grounds transformed gradually into a vibrant canvas of colors. Each morning became a treasure hunt, searching for the first signs of budding life. Students clustered around newly sprouted plants, marveling at the resilience of nature. It wasn't just about seeds anymore; it was a shared responsibility, a collective effort to nurture life.
As the seasons shifted, so did the landscape—splashes of red, yellow, and blue painted the once-dull corners. The principal organized gardening clubs, where students exchanged tips, fostering a culture of care and curiosity. The flower beds became a symbol of unity, reminding us that small actions, when joined together, create something truly beautiful.
After the clean-up, we sat down under a shady tree and shared our reflections by drawing and/or writing about the morning's job. We had a lot of fun!
While I have always cared deeply about the environment, it had been a passive type of care because I felt so helpless in the face of such menacing and seemingly insurmountable problems as global warming, pollution, growing landfills, and depleting natural resources. But since then, I've discovered the power of my voice, and my actions, in shaping my community, and the world around me. Because no matter how small, or seemingly insignificant, one person's efforts or contributions may seem, when it is combined with the power of many, they can change the world.
I realized how collective action is so important to create a tangible impact or change in society and its mindset. Mitigating climate change and protecting the environment is a global issue and requires the will, energy, efforts and support of everyone breathing in this world. Education outreach is necessary for not only students but everyone else, including culturally educating agricultural workers about environmental impacts. Most people aren’t aware of the consequences of their actions, and how severe they can be, and even if they are aware, they are bound to take some steps just to earn their livelihood. When I was collecting small pieces of unwanted substances like the pen caps or candy wrappers from the ground, I found a lot of small pieces of clothes as well. It occurred to me how colorful they are. And how dying them in the textile industries is so deadly for the workers and the environment it is as well.
An emergent call for action is required where the government and organizations need to engage everyone involved, from common public to agricultural workers, from young entrepreneurs and leaders to children and collaborate with each other in the policy-making, creating effective strategies and taking action.
The involvement of the youth becomes crucial for them to be the next world leaders. They could raise awareness, highlighting environmental and public health risks; take advocacy further with ground action by signing petitions and address authorities through letters. Global organizations like the United Nations (UN) must listen to youth perspectives and understand local obstacles for effective change.