1). Environmental Awareness Campaigns:

The Ministry of Environment & Forestry of the Indian government has been sponsoring some non-governmental organizations in rural areas to conduct campaigns aimed at preserving and restoring the environment. READ was selected as one of the groups. So far, the following programs have been conducted:

Street theater programs on environmental awareness

  In 2003, an environmental awareness campaign was organized in Elaiyur, Ayanthathanur and Andimadam villages on the topic “Water conservation”. Following this, a rain water harvesting pit was established in the Training Center of READ at Andimadam for demonstration.

  In 2005, the topic was “Solid waste management”. Under this project, we conducted a seminar on the subject to Self-Help Groups. As action program, we constructed two vermin-compost pits as demonstration pits for participants and other Self-Help Group members to learn how to recycle organic waste into enriched manure.

  In 2006, READ organized a campaign for two days in Rangiyam and Vadugarpalayam villages. The theme of this year was “Waste Management”. Many people participated in the campaign and in the follow-up demonstration of a rain water saving system.

  In 2009, conducted awareness programs in Kulumur village in Sendurai Block, on the topic “Adaptation to climate change”. READ printed pamphlets and an information poster. Through a rally and cultural program, information was shared among the participants regarding many environmental topics with importance on:

       planting trees

       using jute and cloth bags instead of plastic and polythene

       protecting drinking water

Approximately 300 saplings were distributed to the Self-Help Group members. This programme was successful one and the Self-Help Group Members agreed to take this information to their relatives and friends.

On 24 October 2009, at over 5200 events in 181 countries, people came together to speak with one voice on the most urgent issue of our times: the climate crisis. Through http://www.350.org, people in every corner of the planet coordinated the most widespread day of environmental action in the planet’s history. The children of the Mother Teresa School and Jawahar Matriculation School also participated in this call for strong action and bold leadership on the climate crisis.

The school children were also featured on the 350.org website including the video documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noPcVKf24rk

By the days end, it was clear: people of all kinds in just about every place on earth are calling for a fair, ambitious, and binding global climate treaty.

Click here to see pictures of the October 10, 2010 event!

On 10/10/10, people at 7347 events in 188 countries got together to work on the climate crisis, as part of the 350.org movement. The school children at READ also participated and were educated on global warming. They also planted trees in the school yard and took some tree seedlings home.

The school children were also featured on the 350.org website including the video documentary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-PoOkvz6v8

By the days end, it was clear: people of all kinds in just about every place on earth are calling for a fair, ambitious, and binding global climate treaty.

Click here to see more photographs of the activities of the school children at READ.

2). Solar cooking:

Solar cooking provides many advantages:

       It is better for the environment, as it reduces C02 production, and reduces the need of people to cut firewood.

       It helps villagers to save money that otherwise they have to spend on buying firewood or fuel.

       Agricultural workers can do the cooking while they are working on the field, so they don’t have to go home to prepare their lunch.

Dr. Ramin Yazdani, an environmental engineer from Davis, California, and board member of Sahaya International, visited READ in January 2009 and gave a one-day workshop to the READ staff on how to make a solar cooker from simple materials. The staff expressed great interest to use these solar cookers.