NONGSTOIN: It was learning of a different kind, as 120 little green champions took to the streets for a cleaning drive at Upper New Nongstoin on Thursday.
Children with broom sticks, traditional baskets (khoh), shovels and trowels marched to the dirtiest corners of the locality to do the needful.
This World Environment Day event organised by Martin Luther Christian University in collaboration with the Church of God Secondary School here, was less about the usual rituals and more about community engagement.
Focusing on the theme for this programme ‘Waste and Litter Management’ 14 University students of the Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems of MLCU visited Nongstoin to take part in this cleaning drive, by engaging the student community to claim responsibility on the issue and respond to the deteriorating public hygiene sense.
Time invested in the younger generation could prove to be a rippling effect, as the children took time to understand the bleak future if responsible action is not taken now.
Principal of Church of God Secondary School, Evelyn Lyngkhoi, said, “The students of MLCU talked at length about the value of re-use, recycle, discipline, the need for trees and clean air – our students have benefited greatly from this event and so does the entire locality, we believe.”
The programme ended with prizes being awarded to the children who participated in the art competition. With a purpose to spread the word, MLCU students used methods like role play and visual aids to communicate the green messages.
Teacher at the Department of Environment and Traditional Ecosystems, MLCU, Kit Nongrum said, “We want the students to experience learning through community interface – and our concern is that Meghalaya’s smaller towns and villages are getting dirtier, we hope today’s event has made a difference”.
