GPM launches groundbreaking environment action program in Indian schools

Gabriel Project Mumbai (GPM) has been selected to launch an exciting new Environmental Educational Program in order to redress the issues of environmental injustice that profoundly impact the tribal communities of Maharashtra.

 The Environmental Education Program, which is being launched this month in the district of Palghar in the state of Maharashtra, aims to embed environment awareness, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and climate action within the existing primary school curriculum (grades 1 through 8) across 10 districts in Maharashtra state. This project, which is being initiated by the Centre for Environment Education and UNICEF Maharashtra India, is a collaboration with the Indian Government education department. Gabriel Project and its local entity, the Grameen First Development Foundation, were selected as the lead coordinator for the Palghar district of four million people.

“This initiative promotes joyful and experiential learning around crucial environmental issues,” explains GPM Director Kenneth D’Souza. “In embedding environmental education in rural development, we are addressing several key intersecting issues, as well as several SDGs at once. Often, the most vulnerable communities, who struggle with poverty, health neglect, and lack of infrastructure, are also the most negatively affected by climate change. We see that, for example, with issues of

drought and extreme weather and their devastating impact on rural communities. We are looking to address root causes of environmental justice where it is most needed, first by investing in education for awareness.”

The Environmental Education training, which takes place over four months, has already trained 11 Master Trainers who in turn are training 1100 teachers in their sub-districts (talukas). The next stage will be to select “Lighthouse Schools” who will be leaders of this project in each district.

Other schools and teachers may consult and seek guidance from the ‘Lighthouse school’ to implement this project in their own schools. The program will eventually reach thousands of master educators in Palghar and create a comprehensive systemic change.

“This educational initiative will not only bring awareness of the climate problem to tribal children but will also see a generation of new thinkers and changemakers from within the tribal communities who will be environment-advocates and climate-action-warriors for their homeland and their communities,” Mr. D’Souza adds.

The program also anticipates rewriting parts of the government’s syllabus to include environmental
awareness, sustainability, and climate change.

“The Environmental Education Program will have a long-term impact on climate, sustainability, and communal development,” says GPM Founding Director Jacob Sztokman. “It will influence the health and well-being of marginalized communities for generations to come.”

This program also forms a powerful model for collaboration between GPM the Indian government, Ministry of Education, UNICEF, and local grass-roots partners, which is a core GPM value. It also uses a climate action mindset while respecting local culture, customs and tribal heritage, which also form core GPM values.

The 1100 schools in Palghar district participating in the current pilot are almost half of the government schools in Palghar. When the pilot is finished, plans are to expand to the entire district. The program is scalable and ultimately has the potential to be implemented in school districts throughout India.