Paryavaran Ki Paathshala — Trainer’s Guide

Introductory session

• Begin with a Shanti path.
• Introduce the group — ask participants about their college or university and where they live.
• Introduce yourself and explain the purpose for which everyone has gathered.

Objective of Paryavaran Ki Paathshala: to understand environmental issues from the local to the global level and to play an active role in creating creative, participatory solutions. The aim is to shape youth into environmental warriors, ambassadors, and leaders who protect the environment in their personal and professional lives, lead public movements and mass campaigns, and help solve environmental problems in their own region and across the world.

After explaining the objective, move to Module 1.

Module 1 — Introduction to environmental conservation activities

Engage participants on the environment and start a discussion on local issues — focused on their city, village, neighbourhood, school, or college. Trainees may raise issues such as:

• Scarcity of surface and groundwater
• Pollution of water sources
• Air pollution (AQI)
• Waste and garbage
• Plastic pollution
• Lack of cleanliness
• Loss of greenery

Ask everyone for possible solutions. When trainees point to negligence by authorities, steer the discussion towards citizen responsibility (one of the Panch Pran) and how each of us can play a role. While summarising, explain environmental conservation activities:

• The 3 Ps — Personal, Professional, and Public.
• Special emphasis on Trees, Water, and Polythene.

Stress the principle of “not protest, but alternatives” — the alternative lies in youth and their innovation, strength, courage, and sensitivity. As global issues like climate change and global warming emerge, move to Module 2, highlighting that local action is a major step toward global solutions.

Module 2 — National and international environmental challenges

Shift to issues beyond the trainees’ own region — for example, the Himalayas and oceans for participants from the plains. Also explain:

• Climate change
• Global warming
• Ozone layer depletion
• Pollution
• Loss of biodiversity
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• COP (Conference of the Parties)

Let trainees speak one by one on these issues and solutions. While summarising, move towards the role of youth — thinking and acting locally and nationally, while also keeping a global perspective.

Module 3 — Role of youth

“Youth can be agents of change — bringing new ideas, energy, awareness, social transformation, and innovation.” This happens through responsible behaviour and direct action, such as:

• Tree plantation
• Water conservation
• Judicious and mindful use of resources
• Cleaning rivers, ponds, and water bodies
• Reducing plastic and polythene use
• Recycling and waste management
• Saving electricity, energy, and resources; adopting energy-efficient practices
• Avoiding unnecessary expenditure and mindless consumption

Encourage trainees to spread awareness among family, friends, and society, to create public movements, and to collaborate with schools, colleges, and social organisations. Then discuss how to do this, what preparation is needed, which platform to work on, and whom to collaborate with — and move to Module 4.

Module 4 — Way forward

Explain that environmental conservation activity is a strong, creative platform for all of this. Introduce:

• NEYP
• Eco Army
• National SIP
• Participation of youth in COP and other international events
• Eco Clubs and Green Campus initiatives
• The EcoMitram app — introduce it and help participants download and set it up (see the install guide).

Introduce the volunteers from the educational-institution teams, and decide on a weekly or fortnightly activity — such as a meeting or shramdaan (voluntary service) — fixing the date, day, and time.

Conclusion — the pledge

Close the Paathshala with a pledge. Ask trainees to write 5–10 small, personal changes they will adopt over the next month at home or in their hostel, such as:

• Reducing plastic use
• Saving water
• Reuse practices
• Avoiding food wastage
• The half-bucket water challenge
• The cutting-glass challenge

Use environmental games and activities to build interaction and team bonding, create a WhatsApp group to stay connected, and end the session with a Kalyan Mantra (well-being chant).

Next: register participants and give certificates

Once your session is planned, set up your organization on EcoMitram, generate a QR participant link, and give out certificates.