DOLCY D’CRUZ /TEAM? CAFE?
Observed across 100 countries the World Environment Day (WED) is known as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment. It brings together individual actions for positive change on this planet. There are multiple projects held throughout the year in Goa.
Felly Gomes and Achal Chauhan are making a difference to the beautiful and pristine village of Assagao through their Live Happy initiative. With activities happening every Sunday, the members are adding on to the team.
“We have been organising a cleanliness drive every Sunday for the past five Sundays and we are planning to celebrate World Environment Day in collaboration with Mapusa Municipal Council by cleaning Section 25,” says Achal, who is a part of the India Social Responsibility Reason, non profit organisation that does social business and weaves a profit out of it.
So far, the team comprises six core members who are involved in various technical aspects as well as educating villagers about waste management and the need to segregate wet and dry waste. They also have plans to start organic farming and have contacted a few farmers in Goa.
Further on in the village of Saligao, a single family is trying to make a difference by conducting various environment friendly activities. Mario Mascarenhas, his wife Muriel, daughter Tarika and son Suhain were the early members of the Save the Planet club formed in the village. “We have been celebrating Earth hour for the past four years and most of our activities are based in Saligoa. Villagers make it a point to turn off their lights for an hour and many youngsters join in the initiative with cleanliness drives and even garbage disposal treatment, which is done in each ward of Saligao with segregation of plastic waste,” informs Tarika.
In South Goa, Victor Hugo Gomes started out with a humble idea of building Goa Chitra museum, Benaulim surrounded by organic farming. He has his own sweet water fish to eat with vegetables from his kitchen garden with rice from his organic farm. Every year, he encourages children to be part of the harvest and invites family to enjoy the feeling of threshing the harvest. “We invite school nature clubs to be part of different workshops that are being held at Goa Chitra on composting and growing one’s own kitchen garden and terrace gardens,” says Victor.
Clinton Vaz decided it was too much for the environment to pay the brunt of ignorance and formed the 11 member team of vRecycle which segregates the dry waste of homes across Goa. With a well planned schedule, they have their days marked out for visiting different villages in Goa to collect waste which is then processed in Margao Industrial Estate. “Besides collection of dry waste, we also conduct workshops to educate people on how to segregate waste and composting. Many people are interested to learn about kitchen gardens. We also conduct workshops for school children and the hospitality industry,” says Clinton.
