Students delve deep into civic, social issues in Vellayani

‘Social visionaries’ from four government schools in the city are very clear in their mind about the most severe problems in their locality that demands immediate intervention.

July 28, 2014 11:35 am | Updated 11:35 am IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

A group of students make a presentation during ‘Kanthari Talks,’ a forum for school students organised by the Kanthari International, a training institute for social entrepreneurs based at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday. Photo: Special arragement

A group of students make a presentation during ‘Kanthari Talks,’ a forum for school students organised by the Kanthari International, a training institute for social entrepreneurs based at Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, on Saturday. Photo: Special arragement

‘Social visionaries’ from four government schools in the city are very clear in their mind about the most severe problems in their locality that demands immediate intervention.

Through presentations choreographed entirely on their own, these high school students discussed possible solutions and the need to spread awareness on certain civic and social issues.

These were presented during the ‘Kanthari Talks’ – a forum for school students organised by the Kanthari International, a training institute for social entrepreneurs based in Vellayani here, on Saturday.

The group representing Government Girls’ Higher Secondary School in Nedumangad made a presentation on rampant pollution of the Killi river. Their brief presentation included a skit and employed the use of posters to illustrate just how much the river is relied on by agricultural labourers in particular.

They also highlighted the extent of damage caused by illegal sand-mining and by the large quantities of waste dumped into the water body on a daily basis.

It was a subject they were asked to choose by trainers affiliated with Kanthari during a one-day camp held earlier.

This training session essentially coached the students on how to communicate the nature of a problem lucidly and on how to come up with innovative solutions that would involve mass participation.

G.R. Public School in Neyyattinkara made a presentation on money and the extent of corruption. Students from the Sr. Rose Memorial Educational Resource Centre in Valiyathura mostly belong to fishing communities and their subject of choice was naturally focused on the problems faced by the fisherfolk when resources start dwindling owing to pollution. They stressed on making people more aware of the importance of conserving the marine ecosystem. The students of the Rosedale School in Poojapura chose to cover exploitation of women and rising number of cases of sexual abuse of adolescent girls.

Saturday’s programme also saw the launch of ‘Spread of Spice,’ Kanthari’s shop that will exhibit and sell products made from locally sourced ingredients that will bear the Kanthari brand.

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