1 week Ago By daijiworld.com
Media Release Mangaluru, Nov 5: St Ann's College of Education (Autonomous), in collaboration with Vana Charitable Trust and Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP), organized a ‘Beach clean-up drive’ on November 5, at Thota Bengre Beach (Peacock Point), Mangaluru. The event saw active participation from students and faculty, with principal Dr Sr Dorothy D'Souza A C, leading by example, demonstrating their commitment to environmental conservation. The clean-up drive provided a hands-on learning experience for students, allowing them to understand the impact of plastic pollution firsthand.
By engaging in this activity, students were not only contributing to environmental conservation but also developing a sense of social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Environmentalist Jeeth Milan Roche, secretary of Vana Charitable Trust, highlighted the significance of community involvement in environmental conservation and appreciated the students for this initiative. His presence motivated the students to view the clean-up as an opportunity for learning and positive action.
Chetan Bengre, president of the Trawl Boat Association, encouraged the student teachers to serve as catalysts for positive change by organizing campaigns that raise awareness in the community about the importance of keeping beaches clean. By taking initiative and promoting cleaner beaches, student teachers can help inspire a sense of environmental responsibility in others, contributing to the preservation of natural resources for future generations During the clean-up drive, students formed small groups and dispersed along the beach to maximize their impact. Armed with gloves, garbage bags, and tools for waste collection, the students spent their valuable time gathering a variety of pollutants that had accumulated along the shoreline.
They collected plastic bottles, wrappers, footwear, glass bottles, and other waste materials that had contaminated the beach surroundings. Each item retrieved was a stark reminder of the environmental degradation caused by indiscriminate waste disposal. To promote sustainable waste management, students sorted the collected waste into recyclable and non-recyclable categories.
This practical exercise deepened their understanding of waste management practices and their impact on the environment. Through this hands-on experience, the students gained a deeper understanding of the environmental challenges that local beaches face and the need for proactive measures. Many students expressed a newfound respect for community spaces and a heightened awareness of the need to minimize waste generation and promote environmental conservation.
The beach clean-up was an eye-opener, inspiring them to incorporate these values into their future classrooms, thereby fostering environmental consciousness in the next generation. St Ann's College of Education extends its heartfelt gratitude to Vana Charitable Trust and Fr Vincent D’Souza, director, Canara Organization for Development and Peace (CODP) for their invaluable support in this environmental endeavour. Their collaboration played a vital role in making the clean-up drive a success and in strengthening the college's commitment to sustainable practices.
This beach clean-up drive serves as a reminder that positive change begins with small, dedicated actions. By participating in initiatives like these, students are not only helping to protect their local environment but also shaping their role as environmentally responsible citizens and future educators. Vilma D'Souza, assistant professor, St Ann's College of Education, Mangaluru, coordinated the event.
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