Visiting Schools - Meeting the Future Green Cops of Hirwai

Hi,
Its been a real long time since i have written anything here. But now is the right time to share my experiences with  all of you. This is Hirwai's fourth year and i am so glad too say that it has been a fulfilling period in terms of the work we have done and the energy we have felt with these school children. It is not only the school children but also the families of the children whom we have befriended along the way.    

These days the whole Hirwai team is busy visiting the various schools spread out across the city of Nagpur. Its been a real pleasure meeting the children, their teachers and inspecting their projects. Although it is a bit of a tedious task, but the very enthusiasm and the creativity of the kids compel us to proceed further every year.

It gave me immense pleasure to talk to all the tiny tots. I especially remember two kids from the pre-primary section who had grown sun-flower plants and they were so enthusiastic about it. The amazing fact was that they knew a lot about the plant, the flower, why is it called by its name and also the uses of the same. The girl looked just like the sunflower herself, so very fresh and endearing!!!

Nursery development was a new concept which we had introduced this year and it was a bit confusing for the students as well as the teachers, i think. There were some very good entries but not up to the level of our expectations. Maybe next year it will be a much fruitful effort.

Personally, i like the fourth category the most. The tree census activity in itself is a very interesting experience and when we i see the documentation done by the children, it leaves me amazed at the level of knowledge and the zeal to gather more information. I cannot but forget the enthusiasm, the knowledge and the creativity of a student who wanted to share so many things with us. She was so well prepared with her work that we didn't realise how time flew while talking to her. Given a chance she could have spoken to us all through the day!!!

Then there was this group of students from the not-so elite school who had done the most wonderful tree census i have ever come across during these past four years. The very perfection of the project left us spell bound, given that they had very limited resources. But the precision and the level of accuracy of the kids left me absolutely spell bound.

So this is the latest update from me for the time being. Will get back to you as soon as we finish the school visits so that there is more information to share with you all.   

Green Finger

It is always a pleasure to work with school children. Imagine a four year old kid drawing and telling you about the germination process. It is such a memorable experience.

The best part of about the Hirwai Green Finger Activity is that i get to interact with the Montessori kids on a one to one basis. They are so transparent and honest. Most of all i like their enthusiasm and the emotions displayed on their sweet faces while they talk about photosynthesis and chlorophyll and tell us about the growth of their plant from the seedling stage to the grown up one. There is so much of pride in their voice.

But here i would also like to share some thoughts about the indifference being shown by the parents at times. Some of the parents think that their kids should not put their hands in the mud, lest they get dirty and cause infection. Hence they are a bit wary in allowing their children to take part in such a competition.

But when we speak to the kids, we always ask them whether they enjoyed this activity or not? The answer always is a BIG YES. And when we lovingly ask them as to what they enjoyed the most, most times the children say that they really had a great time playing with mud and putting it in the pot. The joy that they feel while doing this activity is clearly visible on their cherubic faces.At such times we feel that all the efforts that we are taking to save the environment and create awareness about it is really worth it.

I would also like to request the parents that please do not alienate the children from the Mother Earth. Let them enjoy the feel and sound of Nature. Let them fall in love with Trees. A small step in this direction will go a long way to develop a strong bond between the kids and HIRWAI i.e. the Green Mother Earth

Teacher's Meeting for Hirwai Green Finger Activity

Hi There!!!

So finally Hirwai Green Finger Activity is underway. We have had our first teacher's meeting on the 17th July. Teachers from nearly 14 schools of Nagpur attended the meeting.

The main aim of the meeting was to have an interaction with the teachers about the whole activity and the process involved. It was also an opportunity for each one to clarify any doubts whatsoever that they may have.

The important dates of the competition were also discussed. Some of the teachers had some queries regarding the various categories while others had minor issues about the dates.

After the session, it was decided that we would reschedule the programme and inform the schools accordingly.

The best part of this meeting was that quite a few teachers from Corporation Schools had also come there. It was very heartening to see their enthusiasm and the will to compete given that they have far less resources than the more elite schools.

SO for the next 2 months it is going to be an absolute frenzy with the schools having their own activities and we with helping them out at times.

I am really waiting eagerly for October1 to let the activity underway!!

Hip Hip Hirwai!!! 

Hirwai Green Finger & Green School Award

Hi Again!!

The main focus of the Hirwai Green Finger and Green School Award is the student of each and every school that is been with us for the past three years. We have been organizing this competition for students of all ages, right from the Montessori to the Higher Secondary. This was done so that we could reach out to the maximum number of students and their families and could get them involved in the Green Cause. All the students have been divided into various categories depending upon their classes and have been assigned different tasks.

The Categories and Activities are as follows:

Category I: Montessori Children (3-5 years).

Activity: Plant a seed at school/residence in a pot. Observe its growth, draw and colour the various stages of development of the plant.

Prizes: First, second and third prize

Category II: Primary School Children (I-IV std)

Activity Sow vegetable seeds in your school / residential premises. Develop a plot of minimum 2ft X2ft land. Document the whole process of planting and growing along with the various farming instruments used in various stages. (The vegetables should be fully grown at the time of evaluation which will be around 2nd week of October, 2010)

Residential entries should be in a small tray which can be brought to inspection site. Total area under plantation should be min. 4 sq.ft

Prize: First, Second and Third prize.

Category III: Middle School Children (V-VII std )

Activity: Nursery development

Children develop nursery of sapling. Each child can develp a nursery of min. 50 saplings. Either of same variety or different varieties. He/she should be able to tell how and why they have choosen a particular method. [Soft bed/poly bags/ recycled bags, boxes] What soil mix they have used and why? Why they have chosen that particular tree, variety of seeds, saplings. Document the process and information of the tree/ saplings that they have chosen.

Prizes: First, Second and Third prize.

Category IV: High School Children (VIII-X std)

Activity: Carry out tree census preferably in your residential locality/ locality near the school. The area covered for census should be a minimum of 500 meters in periphery and should have a minimum of 50 trees. All trees in the chosen area should be covered by census. Details expected are mapping of the trees in the area, identification of species, girth of tree, flowering, fruiting cycle of trees and their usages. The entries should also include the age of the tree calculated (approximately) using the above measured parameters.

Explain importance of tree census.

Prizes: First, second and Third prize

Note: Mapping is logical, approximate map of the selected area specifying location

of the trees.

Special Category: Any innovative project any child has carried out to conserve

greenery, develop greenery particular related to big trees.

Announcement of the Competition for Hirwai Green Finger & Green School Award

So here it is again!! Hirwai Green Finger & Green School Award Competition is again here to take you into a journey of immense joy and self-realization about the Nature around us. So for the consecutive third year, we are proud to bring to you the Hirwai Green Finger and Green School Competition, 2010-11 at Nagpur.

The dates for the competition are as follows:

July 25, 2010: Submission of filled up application forms at Raman Science Center. The application is only to indicate confirmation of participation of school in Green Finger and Green School participation.

August 1,2010: Competition commences and all the participating students should start their activities from this date

August 31,2010: List of all the Participating students (Category Wise) should reach Raman Science Center, Nagpur

October10, 2010: The last date for the submission of final documentation by the Participating students and schools.

October15-30, 2010: Scrutiny and shortlisting of applicants on the basis of documentation; followed by Field Visits and Personal Interviews.

Prize Distribution Ceremony: To be declared on a later date.

Hirwai - Dedicated to Green Mother Earth

Hirwai literally means the Green Mother Earth. This is a forum which is started by a few like minded people who feel strongly about trees in particular and environment in general. Hirwai was born three years back in Nagpur and the only agenda of the group was to plant as many trees as possible in and around Nagpur, Maharashtra.

This group comprises of people who belong to different academic fields but have come together on a common platform just for the Green Cause. Some of us are from the IT field, while others are involved in women empowerment programmes. We also have a team of technical experts who help us out in the selection of trees and also the tree plantation process itself.

The fine thread which binds all of us together is the LOVE FOR TREES. And through our efforts we envisage a better, safer and a greener future for the coming generation. To take this cause forward, Hirwai organizes a Green Finger and Green School Award competition every year.

The main aim of this competition is to bring the school children closer to the nature. It is commonly found these days that parents do not allow their children to play in the mud or to take it in their hands. This leaves them bereft from the joy of going closer to the nature. Our motive is to allow the children to experience the joy of getting their hands dirty in the mud, sowing a seed and experience the love and pride when the seeds burst forth into a sapling and a plant.

Hence the Green Finger Award for the school children and Green School Award for the school which inculcates such habits in their children which help in conserving and protecting the Nature.

Apart from this, Hirwai also takes up tree plantation as and when it is approached for the same. Till date we have worked with schools, women's Self-Help Groups and institutions for tree plantation. Tree plantation is carried out in and around Nagpur.

During the rainy season we also strive to arrange for nature trails. This is done with the sole objective of bringing the people closer to the Nature. In these nature trails we throw seeds randomly, so that they can survive on their own after the rains. Given the heat and temperature in this region, we have to pray really hard for the Rain God's blessings.

So in short, Hirwai is really ALL ABOUT TREES!! We absolutely believe that each one should plant at least one tree and nurture it. Our country has such a huge population that even if each one of us plants and nurtures only one tree each rainy season, then too in the next few years our country will become one of the greenest places on this earth. What we need is a bit of sensitivity, compassion and a lot of focus to save the environment.

So lets make it our one point agenda that we would plant as many trees as we can and make HIRWAI literally that.