Wasteless’ “Sea Change” progress

In February this year [issue # 403], Auroville Today reported about the WasteLess’ ‘Sea Change’ programme which was launched in 200 selected Tamil Nadu Government Schools and reached over 13,500 students between the age of 10 and 13 years. Also the first batch of Auroville students in Transition School started the innovative curriculum. The five-lesson tool kit, which is filled with information, experiments, interactive games and a concluding ‘Sea Change’ Celebration, educates children about marine plastic pollution, so that they can become conscious protectors of our oceans.

The ‘Sea Change’ programme, which is supported by the National Geographic Society, was presented by WasteLess co-founder and National Geographic Explorer, Ribhu Vohra, at the annual NatGeo Explorer Festival in Washington DC, USA in July this year. Editors from National Geographic Learning are now working with WasteLess to integrate key aspects of ‘Sea Change’ into “Impact”, one of the National Geographic’s “English as second language” textbooks. This collaboration will give Wasteless’ work a tremendous reach all over the globe.

Wasteless is now looking at releasing its impact study on measuring changes in attitude and behaviour as well as gaining knowledge of ‘Sea Change’ students. This will allow sharing the programme across India later next year, as the curriculum is available in Tamil, Hindi and English. To reach this goal WasteLess have teamed up with Auroville International USA for their yearly matching Fundraiser in December to raise the $7,500  needed to successfully complete the project. To participate visit www.wastelessindia.org or head to the AVI USA December Fundraiser at www.aviusa.org.