For some people, this was the first time that they had left their village
The attitude that Ekta Parishad has adopted is a clear one, involving regular long speeches and traditional campaigns for enviromental protection. Leaders give young people hands on experience by organising days of practical education in neighbouring forests. As part of last March’s meeting, the youths travelled to discover the forest of Thenmala, 100km from Alapad. After a few hours by bus, they discovered spectacular trees and vegetation: a culture shock for those who were leaving their village for the first time. On the first day, the leaders gave presentations on the surrounding ecosystem : the plants, the soil, and the history of the place. The young people were able, for example, to discover the Shenthuruni, a protected species in India that grows only in this region of the country. Exploring the forest offered an opportunity to reflect on the surrounding environment and, more generally, man’s relationship with nature. After dinner, cooked on the spot using local seasonal vegtables, the youths organised a ‘cultural evening’ : a chance to bring to life the traditional dances and songs of Kerala. Some even presented a piece of theatre. The next day the group went hiking, and continued to recognise many plants that had been shown to them the previous day.
Proud to involve themselves in the protection of the environment
One young person reports, ‘These camps are very interesting and very fulfilling for us. They allow us to visit places we would never have the chance to go to without Ekta Parishad’s programme. We discover all kinds of plants, trees, mangroves etc. We have even learnt their scientific names and what beneficial properties they have for health and the environment’. These encounters, therefore, allow young people to open themselves up to a world they didn’t know. In this way they become aware of ecological challenges and learn about protecting the environment. It is the same for ‘open air’ awareness sessions that the leaders then put on for the village youngsters in the Resource Centers. Here, close to the sea, the young people work with mangroves, a kind of vegetation which is extremely widespread in Kerala and the areas around Alapad and Arattuppuzha, and which also has properties beneficial for human health and the environment. This is a very hardy plant that is able to regenerate itself after major shocks, but one that is, at the same time, coming under an increasing threat. This is one of the reasons why the Centers organise ‘Mangrove Plantation’ days in their village. Another youth concludes, ‘Today, we pay more attention to the world around us and we have learnt to respect it. When participating in other awareness activities, we are proud to get involved in protecting the environment’.
| By organising these camps, Ekta Parishad reinforces solidarity between young people and creates a breeding-ground for activists. |
Also read: Résonances Asia N°24 - May 2008
