Date: 28 April 2025
Location: Satyam Community Centre
On 28th April 2025, SARVAM conducted a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) programme on Environmental Awareness for its volunteers at the Satyam Community Centre, Puducherry. The session aimed to empower participants with the necessary knowledge, tools, and confidence to sensitise students and communities about environmental protection and sustainability. An experienced and dynamic resource person from Auroville facilitated the session, adopting an engaging and participatory approach throughout.
The training began by underlining the pivotal role that students can play in creating a sustainable future. Volunteers were encouraged to take forward the knowledge from the session and inspire children to be active custodians of the environment. The facilitator emphasised that environmental education must go beyond information—it should kindle a deep emotional connection with nature and a sense of responsibility to protect it.
The session was rich with interactive and hands-on activities, including group discussions, video screenings, and creative exercises like drawing and group presentations. These methods helped the volunteers grasp complex environmental issues in an accessible and memorable way while also learning how to convey these topics engagingly to students.
A key focus of the training was the formation of ECO clubs in schools, where students could take ownership of environmental initiatives, including waste reduction, water conservation, and awareness drives. The facilitator also introduced the idea of promoting kitchen gardens through school children, encouraging them to learn the basics of organic farming and involve their families, thereby building habits of healthy eating and sustainable living.
The session concluded with a discussion on critical environmental actions such as saving trees, avoiding deforestation, maintaining clean surroundings, and conserving water. Volunteers were inspired by the practical strategies shared and left with a renewed sense of purpose and readiness to take their learnings into schools and communities.
Through this initiative, SARVAM continues to build a network of informed and motivated volunteer leaders who can guide future generations in environmental stewardship.