Green Friends - From Chennai

What is so special about the three-acre campus of Amrita Vidyalayam (school for children) situated on the banks of the Adyar River in Chennai, India?

The lush greenery and flower gardens tell us a different story from the arid surroundings - a green revolution is quietly underway. Mr. Krishnamachari, the school Principal and Mr. Raj, former landscape expert, and GreenFriends staff have been working steadily to grow a paradise.

Their aim - to help children enjoy Nature while caring for it.

Recalling Amma's words, 'By loving and serving Nature, we are serving God himself', they say, "It is important to help children create a bond with Nature while they are still young, as good ideas take root fast in young minds. This concern for Nature will then last a lifetime". Several practical projects have been initiated to bring home the importance of nature to young students.

One such project was implemented on the World Environment Day. The scriptures (from many religions) taught man to live in harmony with nature and, that divinity prevails in everything, even plants and animals. So useful and beneficial were trees that the wise regarded them as sacred. Students vowed to continue this ancient tradition and planted fifteen fruit bearing trees in the school premises. Each sapling bears a marker showing the date it was planted and the class it belongs to. The children have pledged to raise the sapling through their own effort and hope to trace their growing years along with their 'green friend'.

Concern for environmental issues was highlighted in a seminar conducted by CPR Environmental Education Center (CPREEC) in September 2002. Through slide and video shows, the students of Amrita Vidyalayam saw the impact natural resources have on our lives and how their abuse, especially pollution, affects us. They discussed common causes of pollution in their surroundings and how to prevent it. They were taught to assume individual responsibility for cleanliness. Now children have implemented eco-friendly methods of garbage disposal. Waste is segregated into biodegradable and non-degradable items for recycling.

Work can also be fun! Green Friends has done some innovative landscaping using recycled/ discarded material. Canopies for growing creepers were erected using iron pipes left over from construction work. An old van carrier was fabricated into a stand for hanging pots. A four-foot aquarium has been installed in the lobby. A makeshift pond using plastic sheets and a few rocks finds pride of place in the front garden. A variety of fishes have been introduced for the benefit of the students. The streamlined motion of their swimming has been scientifically proven to reduce tension and induce calmness - a sure draw to ease exam blues!

The young Green Friends have done more - marching for Environment Awareness through neighboring localities, maintaining of gardens and nursery, planting of plants and trees, updating the notice board with latest eco-news and issues etc.

Amrita Vidyalayam Garden Amrita Vidyalayam Fish Pond

They have been able to positively impact their surroundings as well. The once picturesque Adyar River was being used for dumping and burning garbage by the locals who were ignorant of the damage they were doing. The litter attracted scavenging animals, and burning rubber and other plastics polluted the air, posing health hazards for those around. By educating the local community them and setting an example, the school was able to stop the desecration of the river.

The story doesn't end here - Mr. Raj and Mr. Krishanmachari have more ambitious plans - rainwater harvesting, vegetable gardens, vermiform composting… Under their leadership, little hands of the 'Green Friends Club' are busy creating a haven of flowers and birds in a once-barren landscape. They are a standing example of Amma's words, "He who has faith in God, beholds God in every tree and animal, in every aspect of Nature...". Please stay tuned for more on Green Friends in the coming months.

-- A report from Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Chennai, India.

Video on Amma

Gujarat Video

AIMS Video