It gives me a great sense of achievement to share my first experience in organizing an awareness event as a Tunza Eco-generation ambassador.

Details of Event

The event was organized on 2nd July 2017, at the India Club in Dubai, for 15 children between the age-group of 6 to 12 years, attending a summer camp at the Club.

Resource used

I used the Eco generation School Kit- 'Living Green' to present the Green Living concept to the children, projected on a large screen.

Promoting Tunza Ecogeneration

I started the presentation with an introduction about Tunza Ecogeneration. I showed them the website and explained to the children how they can start reading the posts even if they are not old enough to become members. 

I told them about the various learning resources on the website as also the wealth of opportunities and contests that members have access to.  I briefly shared my own experiences through the last four years journey with Tunza Ecogen Forum.

How I adapted the presentation to suit the audience

With respect to the Living Green presentation, the School Kit made my job very easy.  However, considering the age of the younger members of the group, very often I simplified my explanations as some of the words were not known to them.

For example, while explaining 'sustainable living', I started by giving them an example that if we go on a week-long picnic and finish all our food in the first day itself, we will have to starve for the rest of the week. Thus we need to ensure that our consumption is not higher than the supply and the same applies to natural resources too.

For explaining wise use of 'non renewable resources', before I explained the specific details,  I told them that I had got a gift for each one of them. But if the children who came first get greedy and take more than one gift, I will run out of gifts, for those who come later. Similarly we need to ensure that when we have limited supply of resources, we consume them wisely.

Topics covered

Thus engaging the audience, through a descriptive and interactive audio-visual presentation, I effectively introduced the theme and the related contemporary issues. I touched on all components of the  'Living Green' School Kit including 'Sustainable Agriculture', 'Green Energy', 'Green Construction', 'Green Travel' and 'Green Consumption'. The children were also prodded to implement and adopt a Green lifestyle through the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), by Saving Energy and Water, Eating green and Planting green.

Unfortunately I could not engage them in any 'hands on' activities as I was given only a half hour slot. However, the young attendees participated enthusiastically and wholeheartedly. I asked them questions intermittently and clarified their doubts to hold their attention and to ensure that the session was not just a one way flow of information. 

Last but not the least!
Before concluding, I handed out goody bags for all attendees with stationery gifts from Tunza Ecogeneration, and eco friendly pencils and pens, in addition to other small gifts that I had personally arranged (New unused items that I had at home and did not need- such as Hobby kits, Photo Frames, Painting sets, Geometry boxes etc.). I had packed these giveaways in used paper bags to emphasis the importance of reducing and reusing in our daily lives.  

I also presented the Ecogen giveaways and a Jute File Folder, all in the Ecogen bag to Ms. Pansy Lobo, the Facility Manager at the India Club who was the VIP Guest at the event. She was very appreciative of the same.

To conclude my report

Growing up with a healthy dose of environmental awareness, I do believe that young children are more receptive to such initiatives. Furthermore if we catch them young, the awareness grows with them and it takes no extra effort to drive home the need to adopt a green lifestyle. My young friends enjoyed the session and were left with ample food for thought, along with a clear message about the benefits of a green lifestyle.