Caterpillar Foundation and Global Communities Engage Students for Greener Earth

Caterpillar Foundation and Global Communities Engage Students for Greener Earth

Around 1000 students participated in the week-long environment campaign in a south Indian city, as part of the second year of Green Apple Day of Service.

This story orginally appeared on OneWorld South Asia.

Employees of Caterpillar India Pvt.Ltd and students paint a mural promoting green messages.
Bangalore—Caterpillar Foundation, in collaboration with Global Communities and Centre for Social Action organised an awareness campaign in Bangalore during the last week of September, 2013. The initiative was part of the second edition of Green Apple Day of Service, which aimed at sensitizing and educating schools and colleges on eco-friendly practices including safe disposal of waste, source segregation and tree plantation.
The culmination of the programme was marked by Mural Painting at a Dry Waste Collection Centre in Jayanagar on 28th September by Caterpillar volunteers and Ranjit Ambastha, Program Director, Global Communities.
The valedictory function in Christ University was attended by Ramesh Muthuraman, Director Caterpillar India, Hosur. Dr. Hoysala N Chanakya, Principal Research Scientist, Indian Institute of Science too graced the occasion by his presence as Chief Guest. He shared anecdotes with students on issues such as waste disposal, eco-conservation and sustainable development and encouraged them to take up such initiatives to keep their city clean.
The launch ceremony was inaugurated by Sidde Gowda, Chief Engineer from Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which kick-started with a rally and street play by CSA eco-club students in Rajendra Nagar and L R Nagar slums to sensitize local community on environment and hygiene practices. Volunteers from Caterpillar participated in a few of the week long activities which included tree plantation drive, orientation of students on eco-conservation and E waste, exposure visit to Christ University’s zero waste campus as well as Green Building.
Congratulating the efforts of Caterpillar Foundation, Global Communities and CSA, Dr. Hoysala Chanakya said, “Green Apple Day of Service is a noble initiative and I feel extremely privileged and proud to be part of this event that stresses on the importance of solid waste management in Bangalore”.
Overwhelmed by students’ participation and zeal, Ramesh Muthuraman, Director of Caterpillar India said, “It was truly amazing to witness such enthusiasm demonstrated by these students. We truly believe that the future of India will be shaped by the children and youth of the nation. Our aim is to empower children and the youth to fashion a tomorrow based on ideas oriented and committed to making lives better. Initiatives like these would cultivate and sustain a behavioural change in students on waste reduction and recycling”.
Ranjit Ambastha, Program Director, Global Communities said, “The issue of waste management touches everyone’s life every day. Through all our programmes, we strive to instill the message that waste reduction and proper recycling of unavoidable waste are necessary. Students are the best catalyst to bring in community support and our efforts continue to sensitize and empower them so that they can take a strong environment message back home and school to their parents and teachers respectively, he added”.
The Green Apple Day of Service programme in its second consecutive year in India is active in four schools and three colleges in Bangalore through eco clubs where students are taught various waste management practices and activities such as painting, quiz competition, exposure visit to paper unit and composting techniques to keep the environment message alive in their hearts and minds.