Mainstreaming Climate Education
Why We Are Doing This
The urgency of climate change necessitates effective education and awareness to empower communities. Recognizing the lack of accessible information in Bengali, we launched Sobuj Prithibi in 2019, the first communication platform focused on climate change in the Bengali language. Our aim is to bridge the knowledge gap by translating scientific reports, creating educational materials, and fostering a connection between farmers and scientists. Through various initiatives, we address the pressing need for climate-resilient livelihoods and community engagement, ultimately aiming to enhance public understanding of climate issues.
What We Are Doing
We have implemented multiple projects under the umbrella of mainstreaming climate education. These include:
- Sobuj Prithibi: A platform for translating climate-related materials and organizing workshops for students, NGOs, and local communities.
- Air Pollution Monitoring (Aim Cycle): Development of low-cost air quality sensors deployed via bicycles in Midnapore city to monitor pollution levels while raising awareness among residents.
- Climate Change Awareness Through Street Performing Art: Engaging performances that illustrate the impacts of climate change on essential resources like food and water.
- Bengal Supermom: A project supporting mothers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclone Amphan by providing nutrition kits and training on sustainable living practices through an app.
- Climate Art Installations and Exhibitions: Annual exhibitions showcasing climate-related art to raise awareness among the public.
- Citizen Science Initiatives: Projects focusing on air quality monitoring, water pollution assessment, and training citizen scientists to engage communities in environmental monitoring.
Where We Are Doing This
Our initiatives are primarily based in West Bengal, India, with activities spanning various districts. Sobuj Prithibi conducts workshops across schools and colleges statewide, while specific projects like Aim Cycle are implemented in urban areas such as Midnapore. The Bengal Supermom initiative targets urban populations affected by recent natural disasters. Additionally, our art installations take place in public spaces across Kolkata, ensuring accessibility to a broad audience.
How Much Impact We Are Having
Our efforts have yielded significant results:
- Sobuj Prithibi has conducted 121 workshops and trained over 700 individuals, reaching approximately 7,000 people with climate change awareness initiatives.
- The Aim Cycle project has sensitized 600 households about air quality issues while training 20 individuals in monitoring practices.
- The performing arts exhibition engaged over 500 participants directly in discussions about climate change impacts.
- The Bengal Supermom project provided nutrition kits to 1,000 individuals and trained 200 mothers on sustainable practices through an accessible mobile app.
- Our annual climate art exhibitions attract 10,000 to 15,000 visitors each year, promoting community-scale sensitization.
- Citizen science projects have successfully trained over 1,000 individuals in water quality monitoring and air pollution assessment.
Through these diverse initiatives, we are effectively raising awareness and building capacity within communities to address climate challenges proactively.