Thousands of Amrita students have participated in the Amala Bharatam cleanliness drives to-date. Hundreds have helped sort and process the trash, making sure proper recycling and composting is done, wherever possible.

A special group of committed students, however, have gone the extra mile. With their creative skills, they have begun transforming waste into beautiful pieces of art. Especially waste that is non-biodegrabable and difficult-to-recycle.

These students from Amrita Sanjeevani, the student seva association at the Amritapuri campus saw beauty and value, where others saw trash. They created greeting cards, pen stands, bracelets and wall hangings from waste materials they retrieved.

Plastic spoons taped together gave rise to flowers in full bloom. A little ingenuity helped transform discarded bottle caps into useful key chains.

These items and more, were proudly displayed at the exhibition organized for delegates of the International Conference on Society, Technology and Sustainable Development at Kochi.

“The exhibition shows you how we handle waste at Amrita,” stated Dr. S. Krishnamoorthy, Registrar, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. “We know you will want to use such attractive and decorative items.”

Schematic representations of the Amala Bharatam Campaign (ABC), along with snapshots of the activities, were also on display.

Many delegates and speakers singled out these student initiatives for praise.

“I think we all must commend the Amrita students and support them enthusiastically,” remarked Dr. Ram Bhooj, Program Specialist, UNESCO. “With Amala Bharatam, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has set a trend. If we are going to become a sustainable society, in fact, education is the key.”

Seeking to educate further, on the final day of the conference, June 5th, World Environment Day, the Amrita students found an innovative way to promote global cooperation to bring about a green world.

They had the conference delegates demonstrate their commitment towards the cause by leaving green thumbprints on a world map with the theme, For Nature.

Impressed delegates enthusiastically wrote in their comments in the Amrita Sanjeevani diary. Using phrases such as creative imagination; fantastic ideas; inspiring and beautiful artwork; and innovative and sustainable approach, they described how they viewed the student efforts.

One participant honed in on the underlying significance of the efforts, “I am so impressed by your collective dedication and the time and love you put into your projects. Keep shining a light for others to follow!!”
 

Amrita students are lighting the way, showing us all how to get closer to the goal of living in a sustainable society.
June 17, 2011
Dept of Social Work, Amritapuri