ENVIS Hub of Forest and Environment Department, Government of Sikkim organized a day-long peer educator’s workshop on Zero Waste Initiatives on 4th December 2023 at Community Hall, Jorethang. The workshop was participated by about 300 students and teachers from 90 schools of Soreng, Gyalshing and Namchi districts. The programme was conducted as a part of Mission LiFE – Lifestyle for Environment campaign (2022-2028) under the Environment Education Programme (EEP) sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The zero waste mantra of Reflect-Switch-Demand based on toolkits focusing on waste and brand auditing and 12 key steps for zero waste developed by Zero Waste Himalaya (ZWH) was broadly elaborated amongst the participants by the subject experts Abhisekh Pradhan and Kapil Roka from ZWH Darjeeling. Hands-on skilling on plastic waste upcycling, making of baskets etc were also demonstrated by green teacher from Makha SSS Lomas Dhungel and SHG members Homa Devi Sharma and Krishna Sharma. School teachers and the students were provided zero waste skills to enable them to further engage with eco-clubs, youth clubs etc at their schools with hands-on DIY activities for making zero waste schools possible. It was envisaged to minimize waste at source through lifestyle choices with a goal to reduce the impact on landfill. About 25 schools also exhibited waste to art products during the event. The workshop also motivated the students to be agents of change and pass on their reflections and demand positive action at the community level. As a support to this initiative, Forest and Environment Department provided token grant of Rs.5000/- each to the participating schools along with other resource materials.
The inaugural session had the presence of Shri B.B Gurung IFS, Director (ENVIS) cum Nodal Officer (EEP-Eco-Club Programme) and Shri Rajen Pradhan, Senior Programme Officer (ENVIS) as other speakers.
» Also See Short video montage of similar workshop held on October 2023 for Gangtok and Pakyong Districts