Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship Programme (YCCFP) of India - Cohort 1,
funded by IUCN CEC and inspired by IUCN #NatureForAll
WildRoots-INDIA' organised the '1st Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship Programme of INDIA', from July 9th to 16th, 2022 in Guwahati, Assam and at Seijosa, District Pakke Kesang, Arunachal Pradesh. The first of its kind 'Fellowship Programme' was designed and coordinated by Biswajit De, Founder President of WildRoots-INDIA, who is an active member of the IUCN Commission on Education & Communication (CEC) and the International Steering Committee of IUCN #NatureForAll. The Programme, funded by IUCN - CEC, was inspired by IUCN #NatureForAll, which is a Global Movement to inspire love of 'Nature'. As an inclusive IUCN-led coalition of partners, #NatureForAll brings together a diversity of players to share actions, collaborate, and amplify the collective reach to engage new audiences to connect with and fall in love with nature, and ignite action for Conservation. WildRoots-INDIA is an organizational member of #NatureForAll. 'Student Participants from 10 Indian Schools were trained to be Youth Climate & Conservation Fellows at Guwahati, Assam and Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh, where they were exposed to various pedagogies related to Climate & Conservation Education and were trained via environmental educational modules that aimed to build a collective task force to address local & global environmental problems, brainstorm on solutions, mitigation ideas, actions and connect with the local communities', said De.
'It is wonderful to see organizations like Wildroots spreading our environmental reach to students across India. Dr. De's fellowship programme was a major success in engaging youth and growing our #NatureForAll network. I'm eager to see how De's programmes and participants continue to develop, grow and change the lives of a critical generation for conservation. The Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship is a pathway to inspire the young students of India to create a regional group which can represent India in upcoming International Conferences. Thanks to Dr. De for designing the 1st IUCN CEC supported programme in India, which has already become a success story and pathway for other organizations to follow', said Sean Southey, Chair, IUCN CEC. Dr. Cheryl Charles, one of three international Co-Chairs of #NatureForAll, said, 'The Youth Climate and Conservation Fellowship is an exciting, worthwhile, and exemplary programme that will surely inspire others throughout the world. We look forward to the continuing results and positive actions that will be taken by the participants and those they in turn inspire in the years to come.'
YCCFP - Cohort 2 at Pakke Tiger Reserve, Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Wildroots-India hosted a second cohort of its 'Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship Programme(YCCFP) between November 23 and 28 at Pakke Tiger Reserve in Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Designed by Dr. Biswajit De, Founder President of WildRoots-India, the Programme focused on giving students from less-known but enterprising educational institutions who have strong portfolios of environmental awareness work on a five-day course. The students learned about identifying local & global environmental problems and also about designing, planning and implementing Conservation Action Plans.
Wildroots-India involved young early career experts and also veterans as Mentors for the fellowship programme, who designed the educational modules for the Conservation Education & Training Sessions. Mr. Gautam Gupta, expert in Aquatic Ecosystem Design & Conservation organised the River Ecological Study at the Pakke River, Ms. Durba Mitra, who is a student of Law, teamed up with Ms. Kohhua Kaushik, High School Graduate to design modules on Environmental Protection Acts and Climate Policies. Ms. Disha Jain, student of Marine Biology enlightened the participants about Marine Ecosystems and the need for their conservation. The Creative Sessions related to Action Planning for Conservation, Nature Journaling and Biomimicry were organised and mentored by Dr. Biswajit De. Teachers from participating Schools - Ms. Ruchi Rai(Sanskriti the Gurukul, Guwahati, Assam), Ms. Soumali Debnath(Delhi Public School, South Bangalore) Ms. Ipsita Dey and Mr. Samiran Sarker (both from Maria's Public School, Guwahati, Assam) facilitated the Community Interaction & Connection activities, which were the key highlights of the programme. The Programme also connected these students who are from Schools located in the urban areas, with students at the more rural Govt. Residential School, A-2 Block, Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh. This encouraged two way learning between the two groups about Biodiversity, Habitat Loss and Plastic Pollution.
Moments from the Programme - Photo Documentation
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Learning Journey Testimonials from the Fellows
YCCFP - Cohort 3 at Chengelimari Village, Garogaon, Balipara, Assam, India:
Fostering Environmental Stewardship and Community Engagement
The programme was co-mentored by students from University of Calcutta & Student Executive Members of WildRoots -INDIA: Suparna Das, Anuleka Dutta, Anushka Dutta & Aindri Mukherjee. Benjamin August Everett-Lane, UG Student of Dept. of Environmental Studies, Yale University, USA had joined the programme as an International Student Intern. Mr. Suresh Pait, PRT, Govt. Residential School, District Pakke Kesang, Seijosa, Arunachal Pradesh, had provided the local coordination & support for the programme. The ten participating students Trisha Pandit and Aashita Singh (Delhi Public School, Raipur), Sudeeksha Anal and Samriddha Duari (St. Agnes School, Kharagpur), Aaron Chaudhury (St. Francis De Sales Higher Secondary School, Guwahati), Aadishree Avinash Shirsath (Lakshadham High School, Mumbai), Vidushi Shandilya and Jash Modi (Chatrabhuj Narsee Memorial School & N.D. Parekh Pre-Primary School, Mumbai), Hem Dodhia (Gokuldham High School & Junior College, Mumbai), Swanand Mandar Kulkarni (Yashodham High School & Junior College, Mumbai) have now taken up the responsibility to cascade the learning outcomes to their respective schools and communities via 'Action Plans' related to Environmental Awareness, Sustainability & Conservation which were brainstormed and designed during the execution of the programme.
The Connection between WildRoots-India and the community was facilitated by Mr. Suresh Pait, teacher of the same school. The YCCFP was also supported and encouraged by the officials of Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh, India.WildRoots-INDIA expresses special thanks and gratitude to the Chief Guest, Mr. Pani Tayemji, District President BJP(PKD), Guest of Honour - Tapi Gaoji, Rtd. DEE, Govt. of AP, Mr. Lili Kino, BEO-BRCC, Mrs. Okiyam Gao, Ex. ZPM Sille-Oyan, Anil Chiri and Ojing Tamut for gracing the occasion, sparing their valuable times, and encouraging the students.
Now back in their own states, students are being encouraged to replicate the same collaborative structure they learned and form Indian Regional Task forces. Composed of classmates, their teachers and members of the local communities, the goal is to have these groups brainstorm on ideas and implementations to embrace the overall approach of #NatureForAll's Ecological Pathways and Priorities.
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Throughout the four-day program, participants engaged in a series of workshops, fun activities, and community engagement initiatives. Highlights of the event included interactive sessions on Climate Policies, Sustainable Development, and Nature Conservation led by Dr. De and Mr. Gautam Gupta, (an expert in Aquatic Ecosystem & Conservation) and hands-on workshops on natural dye and soap making conducted by local community leaders from Garogaon.
The YCCFP, Cohort 3.0 was like a mini Community Festival. The cultural immersion experience was enriched by ethnic ramp walks and captivating traditional & folk dance performances, offering participants a glimpse into the rich traditions of North East India. Moreover, participants had the opportunity to support the craft of local artisans through the sale of locally crafted handicrafts felicitated by another local NGO - Mahila Shakti Kendra(MASK). Inviting Regional Partners is a part of our own strategies for 'Weaving Communities'.
Balipara, Assam, India May 4th, 2024 – The third cohort of the Youth Climate & Conservation Fellowship Programme (YCCFP) was conducted successfully from April 16th -20th, 2024, marking another milestone in the journey towards nurturing environmentally conscious leaders of tomorrow. Held in the serene rural surroundings of Chengelimari Village, Garogaon, Balipara, Assam, the program saw thirty five enthusiastic student participants from Indian Schools - D.P.S, Raipur, D.P.S - South Bangalore, Gokuldham High School and Yashodham High School & Junior College from Mumbai, accompanied by dedicated teachers and mentors.
Under the visionary leadership of Dr. Biswajit De, Founder President of Wildroots-India, funded by the IUCN Commission on Education & Communication (CEC), and in collaboration with Assam Investment Advisory Society (AIAS) as the Experiential Partner, the YCCFP Cohort 3.0 aimed to inspire a deeper connection with nature and foster a sense of environmental stewardship among the youth. Drawing inspiration from IUCN'S global initiative #NatureForAll, the program was meticulously crafted to provide participants with immersive Conservation Educational Modules, Nature-based Design & a plethora of learning experiences. YCCFP Cohort 3.0 began with an inspiring video message from Mr. Sean Southey, Chair of the IUCN CEC and encouraging words from Mr. Nitu Kumar Kalita, Executive Operating Officer, AIAS.
One of the defining moments of the program was the engagement with Forest Fringe School Students (an initiative by the Assam Investment Advisory Society(AIAS) supported by MASK) which facilitated mutual understanding and collaboration between participants from the Urban Schools and the Rural Local Community. Additionally, activities such as bird-watching sessions and botanic trails allowed participants to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of Garogaon, Balipara, Assam, while fostering an appreciation for biodiversity. Reflecting on their learning experiences, participants had the chance to present their reflections in creative and diverse formats, consolidating their understanding and sharing it with their peers. The program concluded with a heartfelt farewell, as participants bid adieu carrying with them a wealth of knowledge and fond memories.
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Moments from the Programme - Photo Documentation
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YCCFP Cohort-3 AfterMovie
The success of YCCFP Cohort 3.0 underscores the significance of youth-led initiatives in addressing pressing environmental challenges and emphasizes on the importance of collaborative efforts of regional organizations, in building a sustainable future for generations to come. IUCN CEC gave us a little bit of support and #NatureForAll, inspiration and direction. It was only our responsibility to transform those into the most unique Youth Climate Empowerment Programme of India.