Videos
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Low Carbon Future - Participatory Workshop #1
As part of the United Nations Sustainable Lifestyle and Education Programme, Swechha in collaboration with the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan, and implementing organisations Akatu Institute, Brazil; Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; ICLEI, South Africa; has been conducting a year long low carbon lifestyles project in India.
The project aims to collate country specific comprehensive list of behaviour changes for a low carbon lifestyles options in terms of food, housing, mobility, manufacturing goods and leisure. This project undertakes this through participatory research through citizen workshops, surveys and household experiments. It also collects data to estimate the average carbon footprint of individuals.
We recently conducted our first 'Low Carbon Futures' participatory workshop with a group of 39 individuals, centred around a thorough reading into the current climate crisis, in both a global and local context, as well as an understanding of impact of individual carbon footprint.
This participatory workshop used various tools and online games including a pre designed questionnaire to asses and analysis participants current individual footprint, as well as an engaging virtual puzzle game in order to achieve a certain pre-set target of carbon mitigation potential by adopting various low carbon lifestyle options in the domains of housing, food, leisure, goods and mobility!
In stage 2, we will now be working closely with a select group of participants who have expressed an interest in participating in a two week long household experiment. They will be selecting few potential low carbon lifestyle options from an existing options catalogue and database designed by our team, that they can adopt and implement in their daily routine for the next two weeks. The idea through this short experiment, is to understand the exact mitigation potential (using pre established data), through adoption of these simple low carbon lifestyles in ones daily life (e.g. using a bicycle to work on few days, practising recycling of household goods, and/or usage of second hand goods or repairing damaged/broken goods etc). Each of the participants will be working on detailed day-day documentation of their respective experiences while carrying out the experiment, as well as expressing their challenges, if any during implementation.
We are extremely excited to work with our participants on the upcoming household experiment, and can't wait to share the results with you all very soon!
#lowcarbonlifestyles #futurelifestylesproject #IGES #Swechha #participatory #citizensworkshop -
DIY Masterclass #3 - Upcycling with Meenakshi Sharma, Founder at Use Me Works
Ever wondered how you could curate your very own plastic free house party? Ever wondered what to do with all that piling up waste in your homes? Did you know that almost everything in your home, from old cassettes to old clothes, from old toys to old books, could actually be repurposed and re-used in the most beautiful and aesthetically pleasing way?
If you're trying to figure out how to make the most of all that piling up waste at home, or if repurposing and upcycling is your latest hobby, then this DIY masterclass is a must watch for you! Join us in conversation with Meenakshi Sharma, Founder at Use Me Works, as she takes us through her journey of setting up a social enterprise. 'Use Me Works' was set up in 2017 by Meenakshi, with a belief in sustainability that goes beyond just products. Its a social enterprise, run by a group of women who support each other in every possible manner and aim to make a change for a better life and healthy planet.
Meenakshi also takes us through a step by step DIY tutorial on how you can design your very own in-house party banners, and dream catchers using waste fabrics and old clothes! We also get a glimpse into her beautiful, eye catching upcycling studio space in Chattarpur. A must visit for anyone interested in sustainable design!
Timestamps -
0:00 Glimpse into the studio space
00:25 Meenakshi's personal journey in the space of upcycling
04:38 Upcycling as a concept has been with us for generations
07:10 DIY Tutorial - Upcycled Dream Catcher
12:46 DIY Tutorial - Upcycled replacement for balloons
16:08 DIY Tutorial Buntings/Banners
18:20 Other interesting DIY upcycled decor ideas
Visit Use Me Works at - https://www.usemeworks.com/
Visit Swechha at - https://swechha.in/
Follow Use Me Works on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/upcycling.artist/
Follow Swechha on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/swechhaindia/
We post DIY masterclasses and podcasts on a fortnightly basis. Follow us to stay updated on more content related to environment and sustainability.
These DIY Masterclasses and Podcasts are supported through a grant from the US. Dept of State, US Embassy New Delhi -
DIY Worm Bin Updates - How to generate fresh vermi-compost & worm castings in just 40-45 days!
Vermi-composting simply put, is the process of converting kitchen scraps, leftover greens, dried leaves, paper, or any other form of organic waste, into extremely beneficial fertiliser for the soil, using earthworms. Earth-worms are central to a healthy soil network, and can help create the most beneficial compost in the form of worm castings and vermi-compost. Last month, we showcased our step by step DIY Masterclass tutorial on how you can bring in worms to work their magic in your very own backyard, simply by designing your very own worm bin/ tower.
In just the span of 40-60 days, we have been able to generate over 15 bins and towers worth of fresh worm castings and vermi-compost at our farm school in Alwar. It's easy, its cheap and inexpensive, its all "DIY'', and there are several benefits!
If you're interested in taking your first steps towards leading a more sustainable life, start with these bins! They're a great addition to any garden. Have a look at our one month update from the farm school!
Swechha Farm School/Stay is designed as a Learning Centre – hub for ecological design innovation and incubation, sustainable agriculture, environmental practices, life-skills and personality enhancement programs.The purpose of the Farm is to unleash human creativity and develop solidarity in our world, for planet and its people to thrive peacefully and equitably. We aim at inspiring action and catalyzing communities for a regenerative and sustainable world, one with low impact and high quality lifestyles.
Follow our Farm School work : https://swechha.in/swechha-farm-school/
Follow us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/SwechhaIndia
Follow us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/swechhaindia/ -
Air Pollution In India: Santosh Harish in conversation with Vimlendu Jha
Green The Map podcasts are a series on Sustainability and Environment, organised by Swechha India, in association with U.S. Department of State. Vimlendu Jha, one of the leading environmentalists of India and Founder Director of Swechha moderates these podcasts.
Santosh Harish is one of the leading Air Pollution and Policy Expert in India, works with Centre For Policy Research. -
DIY Masterclass #2 - Vermi-Composting & Managing Kitchen Waste using DIY WORM BINS/TOWERS
Swechha in association with the US Dept of State, presents it's second in a series of DIY Masterclasses on 'Vermi-composting & Managing Household and Kitchen Waste.'Vermi-composting simply put, is the process of converting kitchen scraps, leftover greens, dried leaves, paper, or any other form of organic waste, into extremely beneficial fertiliser for the soil, using earthworms. Earth-worms are central to a healthy soil network, and can help create the most beneficial compost in the form of worm castings and vermi-compost.
Here's our step by step DIY Masterclass tutorial on how you can bring in worms to work their magic in your very own backyard, simply by designing your very own worm bin/ tower. Enrich your soil further with these additions to your garden, and promote healthy growth of your greens. It's easy to do, extremely inexpensive, and also makes the most of your kitchen scraps, & leftover greens! Yes, by practising these methods you can also take your first few steps towards leading that 'zero-waste' lifestyle', you've always dreamt of, but didn't know how to achieve!
In this short video we have demonstrated the making of 3 different kinds of vermi-composting units, that you too can develop in your backyards and/or terrace gardens. We have developed these over time, at our farm school in Alwar, an hour away from Gurgaon.
Timestamps :
00:00 Glimpse into Swechha Farm School
00:18 Introduction
00:46 What you need to get started?
01:53 Worm Bin installation
04:22 Adding the kitchen scraps
07:13 Adding the worms
08:30 How long does the process take?
09:39 Basic Do's and Dont's
10:09 Watering & maintenance
12:07 Previous Bin Updates
14:57 Installing DIY Worm Towers
16:21 Vermi-Composting unit/bed
18:11 Conclusion
Swechha Farm School/Stay is designed as a Learning Centre – hub for ecological design innovation and incubation, sustainable agriculture, environmental practices, life-skills and personality enhancement programs.The purpose of the Farm is to unleash human creativity and develop solidarity in our world, for planet and its people to thrive peacefully and equitably. We aim at inspiring action and catalyzing communities for a regenerative and sustainable world, one with low impact and high quality lifestyles.
Follow our Farm School work : https://swechha.in/swechha-farm-school/
Follow us on Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/SwechhaIndia
Follow us on Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/swechhaindia/ -
DIY Masterclass #1 - How to grow your own food - for beginners- with Pragati Chaswal
Grow Your Own Food - for beginners is a first in a series of online DIY masterclasses organised by Swechha, in partnership with the US Department of State.
The primary objective of this first masterclass is to encourage and empower every urban dweller to grow their own food, be it on their kitchen window, their small balcony in their apartment, a modest terrace or even their front lawn. The idea is to learn the basics of food growing, and also to understand what it takes to grow food. Each one of us can grow!
The masterclass is a mix of DIY and practical learning, context in agriculture and agrarian situation and understanding sustainability hands-on! The masterclass has been facilitated by Pragati Chaswal, founder at SowGood, and a dear friend of ours. She is an ex advertising professional turned urban farmer, an avid gardener with a ton of experience growing food. Her team runs two beautiful educational farms in Delhi that are both for chidren, and run by children. Team SowGood believes it’s important for us to stay in touch with nature despite our urban lifestyle. Along with the learning farms, she and her team also run Natural Urban Farming programs with schools and RWAs across Delhi. -
India's Law & Governance on Environment - Kanchi Kohli in conversation with Vimlendu Jha
Green The Map podcasts are a series on Sustainability and Environment, organised by Swechha India, in association with U.S. Department of State. Vimlendu Jha, one of the leading environmentalists of India and Founder Director of Swechha moderates these podcasts.
Kanchi Kohli works on environment, forest and biodiversity governance in India. Her work explores the links between law, industrialization and environment justice. Her research interests also include the implementation of biodiversity regulations in India. She is presently a Senior Researcher at Centre for Policy Research. Kanchi regularly teaches at universities and law schools in India on subjects related to biodiversity, environment and community development.
Burning Questions:
A broad landscape understanding of laws around environment and sustainability in India, a brief historical and philosophical perspective.
Whats interesting or exciting about Indian environmental laws?
How do you see India’s environment in last few decades, is it getting better or worse and why?
Where do laws stand in ensuring we have upgraded or degraded vs-a-vis environment in last several decades. Is it law, the execution on the ground, role of judiciary and executive, or all. Is there something missing in our basic understanding of law and governance for envy , in India.
Law and Governance, both, seem or sound very non-common, as in heavy for commoners to understand or indulge in. How do we simplify it.
You have done some phenomenal work in explaining law on the ground and engaging citizens around certain violations of the environmental laws, by the State as well as other stake holders. How has been your experience and if you have certain learnings to share.
Should our bureaucrats and politicians be forced to take mandatory courses on law and governance vis-a-vis environment, as most often we have seen them as biggest violators on the ground.
Whats the future of environmental laws in India, especially in the light of EIA draft 2020. -
Green The Map Podcast Series #1 - 'Clean Yamuna - A road map' - In conversation with Manoj Mishra
We are super excited to finally launch our 'Green The Map' podcast series in partnership with U.S. Embassy India and American Center New Delhi. This monthly podcast series aims at highlighting issues related to climate change, sustainability, and building a more resilient community. To ‘reimagine and rebuild our world’, through ‘relevant and practical’ solutions that meet real needs of the people (individuals, families, neighborhoods and communities).
Our first expert is Mr. Manoj Mishra, from Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, in conversation with our founder Vimlendu Jha.
Mr. Mishra is a retired forest officer who serves as the convener of the Yamuna Jiye Abhiyan, formed in 2007. This endevaour was developed as a result of growing levels of ignorance and increasing encrorachment of the floodplains of river Yamuna. Since then, the YJA has served as an advocacy based campaign, pioneering efforts to revive River Yamuna, protecting and preserving its floodbanks. Over the past decade, The YJA along with Mr. Mishra have actively worked on providing trainings, workshops, seminars, as well as on developing volumes of research studies on river Yamuna, to further their cause.
Listen in to Mr. Manoj Mishra, in conversation with Vimlendu, to learn more about building a roadmap toward a clean Yamuna. -
CineGreen Change-Makers One Minute Films
10 partner schools were selected and were engaged in a series of extremely
engaging and interesting film making workshops. These hands on workshops stretched across 2 days and focussed on theoretical and practical knowledge behind the working of the camera and process of filmmaking. The 10 one minute films represented the voice and stories
of children and aimed to inspire other students and stakeholders on themes covered. The films were fictional in nature and were driven by voice narratives or ideas discussed during the workshops that the children came up with.
Each of the students participated in the production of a professional film along with film professionals. The two day workshops covered concepts relating to film making theory, storyboarding, storytelling, hands-on training, camera, sound and onset production calls. On Day 2 (the day of shooting), the students themselves became the crew and actors of the films.
Themes such as sustainable fashion, water conservation, urban green spaces, air pollution, upcycling and plastic pollution were addressed in the making of each of these one minute films. A total of over 200 young students were directly engaged in the entire process led by team P se Picture!
A mix of 10 private and public schools were selected to be engaged in these workshops. These were the 10 participating schools :
1. St. James Convent, Shalimar Garden
2. New Era Public School, Dwarka
3. Sarvodaya Sr. Secondary School, Munirka
4. Bharti Public School, Mayur Vihar
5. Venkateshwara International School, Dwarka
6. Sarvodaya Co-ed Govt School, Masjid Moth
7. Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Dhaka
8. Govt. Boys Sr. Secondary School, JJ Colony Wazirpur
9. The Foundation School, Sadiq Nagar
10. Sarvodaya Co-ed School, ZP Block Pitampura -
Webinar on Urban Gardening and Upcycling with Vivekanand School
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CineGreen Journey Film
CineGreen is an initiative launched by American Express, as part of their corporate social responsibility, in association with PVR NEST, Samhita and Swechha.
A year long school environment education initiative executed by Swechha across 70 schools in Delhi/NCR, focused on facilitating a culture of environmental engagement and responsible civic action for young people through learning, exposure and strategic opportunities. CineGreen promoted engagement with targeted audiences and created awareness and impact on their immediate environment with special focus on Air Pollution, Water Conservation and Urban Green Spaces.
70 schools. 70,000 young students. 10 change-making films. 10 green action fellowships .
Re-live the journey of CineGreen! -
Webinar - Serious Sustainability Practices (Praxis Awareness Level 1)
Serious Sustainability Practices - Praxis Awareness - Level 0.1 was organised under the aegis of the US Embassy and ably coordinated by Swechha, took place between 11am and 1.45 pm on 12.07.2020.
The program was broken into three clear instructional modules with in-built interactions, engagement exercises and tool- based input sharing with the participants.
The first module ‘Preparing for disruptions: Focusing on SDGs - Challenges , Complexities and Inter-relationships’, delivered by US State Department (IVLP) alumna Sanjukta Mukherjee dealt with creating a virtual map for the
participants at the conceptual level, where the terrain included precepts of sustainability, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and their interpretations, general concepts of businesses and ecology alignment to the overall ethos and bottom-lines of sustainability with a distinct synergistic story boarding of the emergent” new normal” apropos sustainable development in the ongoing scenario and the post pandemic world. It included concepts of business continuity, economic and disaster resilience, preparedness and alignment of perceptual positions to make
the participants’ personal businesses vis a vis eco systems empowered by readiness. There were a number of questions including one from a senior correspondent from the Trade Fair Times as to what she considered the most challenging aspect of propagating the sustainable business opportunities which the facilitator answered satisfactorily.
The next session, titled Sustainable Production & Processes - Enterprise Score Card & dealt with a more operational approach where the facilitator Satrajit Sanyal, who is a Lead Assessor for Sustainability Assurance and implementer of the Balanced Scorecard and an alumnus of The American National Standard Institute took the participants through the two different frameworks of sustainability assurance and score-carding and through a very short presentation explained to them the how these two frameworks could be synthesised to create an operational measuring tool for evaluating sustainability in both the social and professional contexts. The session ended with a small exercise which involved the participants and tooled them to measure emergent positive practices in a constrained scenario like the present pandemic. There were queries by a senior development practitioner and former government official, an International legal consultant and regional registrar for India’s apex body in the field of institutional arbitration and a recently returned post-doctoral fellow from California University. Each of these queries were satisfactorily solved by the guidance and facilitation of Mr Sanyal who helped these participants come to their own solutions by using the tools he had been discussing.
The last session, An Overview of The Growing Market And Increased Demand and Green Business Case Studies’, was a technical session which was delivered by Prof.Judhajit Sanyal who is an academic, scholar and researcher in the fields of Applied information Engineering and Advanced Environmental Practices, and dealt with the opportunities and emerging trends- pre, during & post COVID 19- in the field of sustainable and environmentally resilient business practices and areas, mapping it to the urgent need of recognising and predicting constraints, responsibly creating
redressal mechanisms and systems for the same, taking the incumbents step by step through UN, World Bank and other reports and live data vis a vis predictive analytic forecasts regarding the future of green business.
There were queries from several of the incumbents which were effectively addressed by Mr Sanyal and some queries which were beyond the permissible time frame were promised responses to, offline.
The program due to the enthusiastic response of the participants and the many queries that they raised to the facilitators had to be extended to a further 15 minutes than the originally declared duration. It ended on a very
positive note where the incumbents seemed interested to take part in future events which offered learning on similar lines. This seemed like a measure of efficacy of the program and could be considered as a point of departure for the way ahead.
