'This has to be the summerest summer of all summers.' I read somewhere on social media and I couldn't agree more. The curse of walking in 43 degrees Celsius at 6 in the evening can't be put into words for sure. And to no one's surprise, the reason is very obvious, climate change. The world economic forum has defined climate change as one of the major problems on the planet. There is a lot of data that can show how devastating are the effects of climate change and what more trouble it can cause if things move forward similarly but let's not get there. I don't want to scare you with too much data and no solution.
Let's talk about the most important things that can be done in a time like this i.e. to 'Act'. Yes, as simple as it may sound that's where we are lacking. There is an urgent need to take a step forwards in the right direction. Now the question comes, what to do or where can we start? So, today we are going to talk about one such programme that is bringing the much-needed change in society.
Green Delhi Fellowship Programme gives the youth a great opportunity to engage in different projects and activities, giving them a leadership role, to achieve sustainable development and environmental harmony. This programme is offered by Delhi Greens which is a non-profit organisation set up in the year 2007.
About the Green Delhi Fellowship
The GYP ( Green Youth Fellowship) programme offers a great opportunity for youth to get associated with different activities that can help to achieve the environmental goals as a society along with their regular course or job. ( Apply here)
Green+ Goals
- 33% green cover - The organisation is aiming to cover 33% of the capital with green cover by conserving biodiversity, planting & protecting trees and raising awareness. This will also help to reduce air pollution which has been one of the most alarming concerns for the city over the last few years.
- WASH for all - The organisation aims to provide Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for every citizen of Delhi.
- Zero Waste lifestyle - To ensure that every citizen is living a zero-waste lifestyle by eliminating single-use plastic, segregating his/her waste and buying eco-conscious products.
- Carbon Neutral Economy - To ensure that not just the country but the whole world reduces dependence on fossil fuels and safeguard the present and future generations from catastrophes of global warming and climate change.
Eligibility for Green Delhi Fellowship
- The applicant must have completed a minimum of 3 years of graduation/under-graduation from a recognized university in India.
- The applicant must have completed his/her school education from a school located in NCT(National Capital Territory) of Delhi and district geographically contiguous with NCT or his/her graduate/under-graduate degree from a university located in NCT of Delhi and districts geographically contiguous with the NCT of Delhi.
- The applicant must ensure that there is no conflict of interest between his educational institution, personal goals and workplace policies with the honorary fellowship if he is pursuing a degree, taking a year off or is employed somewhere.
Programmes of Green Delhi Fellowship
- Generating Mass Environmental Awareness - This is one of the key objectives of Delhi Greens. They have been working to generate environmental awareness since its inception in 2007 through the key initiative Delhi Greens Blog.
- Conserving River Yamuna and Wetlands of Delhi - They have also been focusing on protecting the life-supporting Ganga river along with the depleting wetlands of Delhi through UERA(Urban Ecology - Research and Action) Laboratory
- Protecting Delhi Ridge and Urban Biodiversity - The institute also voices for guarding Delhi Ridge forests, Delhi trees and green cover.
- Training Youth for Environment Leadership and Green Skill Development - Through programmes and groups like Green the Change Academy, Summer online internship programme and Delhi Youth Summit on climate, Delhi Greens is trying to train the youth in the right direction and develop environmental leadership skills to cater the needs of the community at large.
- Implementing Environmental Education and Reviving Traditional Knowledge - Delhi greens is also trying to ensure that Environmental education is a part of academics as well as extra-curricular which also includes the traditional ecological knowledge.
Activities of Green Delhi Fellowship
- 100 ways to Beat Plastic - Plastic pollution has been one of the major concerns as it doesn't degrade easily and even when it does, it can be found in the form of micro-plastic which is still harmful. Delhi Greens has listed 100 ways how you can beat pollution in your day to day life. So if you want to live an environment-conscious lifestyle, these ways are surely your go-to thing.
- Delhi Birdwatcher Web app - This is an interactive and pictorial inventory of the birds in Delhi. It has been created to interest citizens in birds and bird watching. Any drastic change in bird diversity is a forewarning of imminent ecological problems.
- Distribution of PPE Kits to Waste Collectors in Delhi - The institute donated PPE(Personal Protective Equipment) kits to waste collectors and waste workers from the most vulnerable sections in North Delhi. These donations were possible with the help of Hitachi Lift India Pvt. Ltd. And citizens.
- Rural Immersion Research Expedition - this expedition was made at Chamba town and adjacent villages in November 2019. There was also a visit arranged to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India's Paryavaran Awardee and renowned founder of Beej Bachao Andolan Shri Vijay Jardhariji at Jardhar village, Uttrakhand.
- Workshop for Stall Owners - In Delhi Haat, INA a workshop was conducted for stall owners, especially the food stall owners to make them aware of the problems caused by single-use plastic. All the participants pledged to do whatever they can to bring the necessary change.
- Hands-on training workshop on creating vertical gardens - This workshop was conducted in coordination with the Environmental society of College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi. It was joined by students as well as the faculties of CVS college. The key resource people from Delhi Greens were Ms. Konsam Nirmala Devi and Ms. Madhavi Jain.
