On the occasion of International Youth Day, SwitchOn Foundation conducted a series of online workshops that address the theme of this year’s (2021) International Youth Day -, “Transforming Food Systems: Youth Innovation for Human and Planetary Health”, to highlight that the success of such a global effort will not be achieved without the meaningful participation of young people. In the workshop leading schools and colleges like Techno India, South City International School, Scottish Church, La Martiniere For Boys, Delhi Public School Newtown, Army Public School Barrackpore, DAV Public School, MCL, J.A, Dera, Delhi Public School NTPC Farakka, Patna Women’s College, St.Joseph’s College Bangalore, Durgapur Government College, Visva-Bharati University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, LAW College Durgapur, Vivekananda College, Scottish Church College, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Boudh Panchayat College Boudh Odisha, Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology & Applied Nutrition – [IHM], Birsa Institute of Technology – [BIT] Sindri, Silli Polytechnic participated from over West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand. The event was attended by over 200 educational institutions and organizations. 

The workshops covered varied topics relevant to India’s changing environmental scenario and were delivered by subject matter experts. The topics of the workshops and the name of the experts are mentioned below:–

1. Climate Change as a Learning Opportunity –  Dunu Roy, Director of Hazards Centre, New Delhi

The workshop focussed on the need for education & sensitization at the school level which can help in making students aware and responsible for climate change challenges.SwitchON is currently also working with school and college students on climate change and using their voices to advocate for a pollution-free green city. The workshop addressed the current challenges and the future potential of young minds to drive climate change advocacy for a better world to live in. 

2. Connecting Nature, Culture and Climate Change – Ananya Bhattacharya – Director- BanglanatakDotcom

One of Asia’s largest natural ecosystems, the Sundarbans are likely to be one of the worst affected regions due to climate change. The world’s largest Mangrove forest is now under threat, both naturally and culturally. While the sea level has risen 3 cm in the last decade, large emigration trends are observed especially amongst the younger generations. Today, one can hardly find 50 original singers of Bhatiyali songs of the Bengal boatmen. The workshop highlighted certain key facts, enlightening young minds on ways to engage in nature conservation by adopting a holistic approach that directs a natural and cultural change in favor of environment conservation in the long term.

3. East Kolkata Wetlands, Food and Sustainability – Nobina Gupta – Artist & Founder – Disappearing Dialogues

Occupying 12500 hectares of land on the eastern fringes of Kolkata, the East Kolkata Wetlands (EKW) is a unique socio-spatial landscape. Ecologically diverse as well as socially rich, this peri-urban ecosystem utilizes the city’s organic sewage for activities – ranging from fish farming to paddy cultivation and animal husbandry. All of these economic activities are socially and economically sustainable providing natural water treatment services as well as food, shelter, and livelihood for a large portion of Kolkata’s population. The workshop shed light on the importance of this rich ecosystem, existing on the fringes of a rapidly evolving city and the need to preserve it, both through a behavioral change at an individual level as well as through a larger systems change. 

4. Why organic food is good for your and the planet’s health – Ekta Jaju -CEO – ONganic Foods

Organic food decreases your chemical exposure to harmful fertilizers and pesticides. It’s a fresher alternative due to the absence of preservatives that prolong shelf life. Organic farming practices involve less pollution, prevent soil erosion, preserves soil health, and conserves energy. Despite all these benefits, only 2% of the net sown area in India has organic farming. SwitchON Foundation has been promoting organic farming practices in agriculture throughout India, helping adaptation to climatic variations. The workshop highlighted the need to shift to a sustainable diet for the betterment of our and our planet’s health and how the same can be adopted in our daily dietary practices.

5. Dangers of Air Pollution and How we can reverse Air Pollution! – Vinay Jaju – MD SwitchON Foundation

“A ticking time bomb, The defining public health challenge of our generation. A devastating public health crisis. The new tobacco. An opportunity for a climate and health win-win.” All of these phrases have been used to describe the challenge of toxic air pollution, which is blighting millions of lives around the world. The workshop highlighted the need to realize air pollution as an emerging threat to humanity and adopt sustainable measures to combat the same, both at an individual as well as a community level. 

The youth of today are the future leaders of tomorrow and they can help secure our common future by ensuring a sustainable lifestyle. The degrading quality of air in our cities, the growing resource degradation and depletion, and the rapidly evolving environmentally disruptive lifestyles have led us into a massive climate disaster. The event, joined by over 200 bright and enthusiastic souls, highlighted that this generation can make systematic and structural changes that have the tremendous transformative potential to stop the planet from warming, help everyone adapt to the new conditions, and create a world of peace, prosperity, and equity.

Please find the Presentations, here.