Carmel High School Students Lead Eco-Friendly Drive with Handmade Paper Bags
In the quiet town of Bantwal, within Dakshina Kannada district, the festive spirit of Christmas took a green turn this year. Students at Carmel High School in Modankap channeled their holiday energy into a remarkable environmental project, transforming discarded newspapers into a staggering 4,900 paper carry bags. This initiative, spearheaded by the school's club, aimed to combat the pervasive use of plastic and educate the local community on sustainable alternatives.
A Vision for Change Starts at School
The project was born from a simple yet powerful idea: change begins at home and school. Under the guidance of a mentor named Pinto, the school embarked on this hands-on endeavor to inspire children and adults alike to rethink their plastic consumption. "I trained around 259 children, with about 41 actively participating in the bag-making process," Pinto explained. "Others contributed by procuring newspapers, ensuring we had ample materials to work with during the Christmas holidays."
Each handmade bag, crafted with scissors and glue, is designed to hold up to 2 kilograms, making them practical for everyday use. After completion, the students distributed the bags to shopkeepers in the neighborhood, sparking curiosity and discussions about reusing newspapers as carry bags. "Students also educated their parents on this concept, extending the awareness beyond the school gates," Pinto added.
Fostering Responsibility Through Practical Learning
This project was not just an environmental campaign but also an educational tool. Active participants received marks under the school project, emphasizing its value as a "practical project with hands-on experience." Pinto highlighted the broader impact, noting that the initiative instills a strong sense of responsibility and environmental consciousness among students and the local community.
Looking ahead, the school plans to enhance the project. "From next year onwards, we want to make the bags stronger and add handles so they can be used multiple times," Pinto said. The success has already attracted interest from other schools, with many approaching Pinto to train their students in paper-bag making, indicating a growing ripple effect of sustainability efforts.
Carmel High School's Ongoing Environmental Commitment
This paper-bag initiative is part of a larger, year-round environmental program at Carmel High School. Under Pinto's mentorship, the school has been proactive since 2019, training students to dig percolation pits to conserve water. Starting this month, the 'Chirp Chirp' campaign will launch, focusing on providing water for birds during dry seasons.
Additionally, the school has a tradition of giving each new high school student a good-quality sapling to nurture, symbolizing growth and environmental stewardship from day one. These efforts collectively underscore the school's dedication to fostering a greener future, one student and one project at a time.
By turning newspapers into functional bags, Carmel High School students have not only reduced plastic waste but also woven sustainability into the fabric of their community, proving that small actions can lead to significant environmental change.
