‘Rebuilding Kerala - environmental possibilities and challenges’ is the focus of the second edition of the Green Congress to be held at SMV Government Model Higher Secondary School in the city on December 1 and 2.
The Green Congress is an initiative by the city Corporation to draw students’ attention to waste management and environmental problems and equip them to put forth new ideas and draw up activities to counter them with the support of Green Army units in schools and other environmental organisations.
Highlight
The highlight of this year’s congress is an ‘exchange’ workshop on December 1 in which 20 higher secondary students from flood-affected areas in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, and Thrissur districts and 10 volunteers who took part in relief operation will take part. They will interact with 20 students from Green Army units in the city and 10 volunteers from material collection centres here.
The workshop ‘Changaan Changaayi’ will provide the children a platform to voice their thoughts about the disaster and rebuilding the State, and the results of the interaction will be submitted to the government. Cultural programmes, painting competition, photo/video presentation will also be held. The Corporation has invited students to take part in the event.
Contest
One contest ‘Anthamvittu Aalochikkam’ invites students to pen their ideas on environmental problems and make suggestions to address these. Importance will be given to practicality of the ideas.
On the second day of the Green Congress, children’s presentations, poster, photography, quiz and short film competitions geared towards the theme of rebuilding the State will be held.
To promote the Green Congress, a painting competition for lower and upper primary students in schools under the city Corporation will be organised on Thursday. The best five entries from each school will be judged in the second stage and the eventual winners will be given prizes. Over 40 schools have registered for the contest.
On Sunday evening, a performance by Chumaduthangi will be held at a mall in the city as a pre-event to the Green Congress.
Treasure hunt
A treasure hunt in which participants were given clues to locate seven material recovery facilities of the Corporation was held recently.
The exercise was aimed at increasing awareness of these facilities among the youth.
The clues were made available only after completion of an activity. Prizes were given to the winners, as also the waste that they generated during the course of the hunt to impress upon them the amount of waste generated during daily activities, V. Nikhilesh Paliath, Green Army mentor, said.
