Progress report for
Responsible consumption at ABWA
Achievement at a glance
Over 60 students from Grades 7 to 12 participated in a beach cleanup at Girgaum Chowpatty beach on 30th September 2023. The aim was to clean the debris left behind after immersion of Ganpati idols (as high as 12 feet) on the beach at the culmination of the 10-day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival celebrated in Mumbai. The collected waste was accumulated into piles that were collected by the sanitation department of the BMC (BrihanMumbai Mahanagar Palika). The immersion of these idols has cultural significance for the people of Mumbai, and in recent years, the government has spread awarenenss about celebrating the festival responsibly by using eco-friendly idols made of clay.The cleanup also sheds light on the shared repsonsibility of local citizens in protecting the fragile coastal environment of Mumbai that is rich in mangroves as well as other marine life.
This initiative was done by partnering with 'Change is Us', a youth-led local organisation comprised of alumni from our school and other environment enthusiasts. The student-led Green Club at our school took charge of this initiative.
Picture credit: Soham Balsari, Grade 12 IB DP student at ABWA.
Challenges faced in implementation
None.Next Steps
Students aim to attend more clean-ups organised in the future at the same beach and other beaches around the city.The next project to be taken on by the school is the EcoBricks initiative and the recycled paper initiative.
Beneficiaries
- Local residents of Mumbai benefit from a sanitary environment
- Tourists who visit the beach for recreation and health enjoy an aesthetic view
- Ecosystem of coastal regions including flora and fauna have a cleaner habitat
- Students learn about collaboration and sustainability
Actions
- Clean-up of the beach- Awareness about sustainability in coastal environments