We return with an update on the same.

For the second session, we had Jaya Di, our close friend and the founder of Happy Children’s Library, visit. She did an adorable reading session with the tiny tots to keep them interested in reading and books.

Our hopes were high for the second session. We arrived with a great deal of preparation, but none of the boys turned up.We were hoping that a few of their sisters would also come. Even though it was a bit embarrassing and sad that Jaya traveled a good distance for it and none of the students turned up, the tiny tots kept up our spirits and enthusiasm. We ended the day with a mental note that there was probably some miscommunication or the students might arrive for the upcoming sessions.

Firstly, we were investing our time, energy, and money in it, and the economics didn’t seem to work with such a minimal (3 out of 15 ) number of students. Meanwhile, we also didn’t feel it right to discontinue for those three children who were enthusiastically turning up. So we decided to take up one chance of executing it in the upcoming week before taking the final call.

The next week followed with some fun Nature Bingo games and a film screening for the same four students who had made it. So, it was a wrap!

Our questions and wonders about the deviated path of the workshop got me penning these points.

We noticed that the schools in this region are quite far from the villages. It takes more than an hour for the students to reach on foot. So, school dropouts are significantly high, especially among girls. The older children are reserved and have limited exposure to their prospects. So, through the School of Nature, we wanted to open multiple realms of learning. Since the region is indeed abundant in terms of natural and alternative learning sources we wanted to use the treasure troves for good.

We began our efforts by creating application forms and visiting clusters of houses in the center’s vicinity. The identified center was a lease arrangement of an abandoned house in decent condition. We explained the details and importance of the workshop to each of their parents and even to the students on their first day.

What we suspect the reasons for the negative response could have been:

• In our first session, we were less persuasive about the advantages, relevance, and fun part of the workshop. Or the participants failed to understand the contextual relevance of such activities or programs.
• Considering their ways of life, we figured that the community reciprocated poorly for commitments and accountabilities.
• Most participants came from the same part of the village and schools, and the peer pressure might have taken over the interested students.
• Overall, the communities around the place are superstitious and skeptical about new events and happenings.
• The young people may have felt intimidated because of a few incomprehensible factors.
• We were supposed to offer something to hold their interest and attention on the first day, perhaps (which was something we had done with another group that turned out successful.)
• The center offered a basic and raw appeal. We are not sure how much of it pleased the students.

We may have to approach the communities and activities differently the next time. We look forward to breaking the code and re-entering Simrar this time, for good!

Visual storytelling workshop – 2 – GUPS

The highlights of this workshop at Government Upper Primary School, Majhera, were the theatrical activities that the students thoroughly enjoyed. The expressions and imaginations that sparked through these activities made way for storytelling. Sanket began the workshop with his power-packed performative act of his Bhooka character. Shortcomings from the previous workshop were worked on to make the current one impactful. We plan to soon publish the comic frames the students have created into a storybook.  Yet again, we would like to thank you all for making this happen.

Resourceful offering

Nature learning / Environmental Videos

On Nature’s Duty has produced numerous videos that serve as valuable facilitation tools. As nature learning facilitators, we recognize the positive effect these videos have on young learners—especially in rural contexts—by bringing wildlife close to them. Incorporating these resources can enhance our facilitation methods. Nature Science Initiative, an associated organization in Dehradun, has included our content, Valley of Birds Under Threat, in their nature learning course, Nature Vidya, inspiring us to continue this work. 

One for the inclusivity

We noted the limitation in availability of nature learning content in local languagesand community feedback on our Kumaoni dialect production. As a result, On Nature’s Duty will now release each video in at least two languages, English and Hindi. 

Audio – Visual Facilitation Module on: SHELTERING LIFE

We have curated a new nature-based audiovisual facilitation module- SHELTERING LIFE: CONNECTING NATURAL ANIMAL HOMES WITH HUMAN-MADE STRUCTURES. The module will introduce the participants or students to Animal shelters, their forms, needs, and purpose through the presented videos. The module will also develop on these factors to introduce or discuss how natural buildings are most definitely a sustainable choice.

Offline documentation prototype- Seasonwatch

Limited internet and smartphone access in rural or remote regions led us to design an easy-to-follow offline documentation prototype inspired by SeasonWatch. We have used it with our students a couple of times now, and they enjoy the process of recording observations in this manner. We went on to upload the same on our digital devices based on the availability of the resource.

updates from the quarter

What are we upto On Nature’s Duty?

We are back to producing short environmental videos after a break of about a year, and we restarted our efforts last month. Check out our latest addition to the channel, a video on the entire family of a Red-billed Blue Magpie feasting on garbage. Why do they do it, and what are the consequences? The narrative covers it all.

Young Minds exploring the local resources

The students of Happy Children’s Library were facilitated in a session on exploring the local resources. During this, the students explored the nearest water source, a spring (Naul or Shrot). We used an enquiry-based approach to learn about the how and whys of the water table, the process of natural sedimentation and filtration that takes place in such a terrain. The session was designed to enhance our relationship with the land, inspired by our indigeneity.

We invite you to consider pledging your support in any kind and frequency. Become a regular donor!

A Q&A session was facilitated by Paras, who provided the required translations as needed.

Ben and the students introduced their bioregions, culture, and lifestyle to one another. They continued with writing letters to each other as a lovely gesture of bidding goodbye!

Our Goals for the session:

• Establish that language is not a barrier to communication.
• Eradicate white supremacy by offering an equal opportunity to interact and learn.
• Encourage the students to interact in the areas beyond their comfort zones.
• Showcase alternative career choices and pursuits, especially in connection with the land and environment.
• Offer Ben an experiential introduction to the Himalayan villages, culture, and lifestyles. Similarly, introduce the students to the part of their visitors’ world.

Dear Community,

We, the team of Green Life Conservancy, are delighted to bring you the updates from the first quarter of 2025. First of all, we are grateful and would like to thank each of you for extending your support in any and every form possible. 

You will find sections varying in the newsletter, including offerings, announcements, happy news, challenges, and a funding appeal. Share it as relevant, and follow us on social media platforms for regular updates.

Launch of our Website

We launched the website of Green Life Conservancy Foundation in the first week of January, beginning a journey of documentation and visibility. It was a well-thought-out month-long process of designing and content creation, indulging multiple additions and updates. Now, we are set to regularly update our website describing our latest offerings, developments, establishments, challenges, communal support and more. 

A resourceful offering

Nature based Learning materials for the Learners and the Facilitators.

We have designed and documented modules and sessions to make learning fun and effortless. A few of the materials are generic and widely applicable, while a few are age-specific, season-specific, regional-specific and alike. Usually, we display these curations as creative commons on our website. Through such content creation and display, we aim to ensure the democratisation of knowledge/ information flow. Every learner, facilitator, educator, and parent should have access to the learning material. 

Feel free to go through the resources, use them as you like and keep an eye out for more such learning tools to come-

Delightful Announcements

Expansion of our Community

Green Life Conservancy is now a member of the Western Himalayan Vikalp Sangam, The Himalaya Collective. We credit this move to our friend Alex Jensen, a Research and Project coordinator with the Local Futures organisation, who recommended us to the group! We are delighted about this expansion in our community circle. A bit about the collective- 

The Western Himalayan Vikalp Sangam (WHVS) is a process connecting individuals and organisations focused on alternatives in the Western Himalayan regions of India in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir. Part of the broader Vikalp Sangam, it has been active since 2016

The Himalaya Collective, an open-source platform that shares stories, perspectives and resources, emerged out of deliberations of the Western Himalayan Vikalp Sangam in 2019.

Sparking an Interest in Urban Ecology

After Lucknow and Moradabad, Shruthi facilitated a Nature Exploration Camp conducted by the Pratham Foundation in Bangalore. The students here came from a semi-urban background since they lived in the periphery areas of the fast-paced Bangalore. They had exposure to urban opportunities and modernity, so if they lacked anything, it was the connection with whatever of their natural environment was left. Our facilitator took this opportunity to get the participants to observe the urban ecology they shared.

Check out the documentation of the camp and its Instagram post, show us some love

UPCOMING PROJECTS & WORKSHOPS

The team of On Nature’s Duty, in collaboration with a Performative Artist, Sanket Petkar, from Mumbai, is geared up with a new project addressing the Human-Wildlife interaction/ conflict pertinent across Uttarakhand. 

The concept of the documentary film is the brainchild of the filmmaker Paras. He plans to execute a new method of filming and storytelling to showcase an unbiased image of the perspectives of the various stakeholders of the subject.

Currently, the team is in the phase of research and fundraising attempts. We shall be grateful for any leads or support in this regard.

A Visual Storytelling Workshop.

As part of the OND’s project Sanket will be facilitating a visual storytelling workshop in June 2025 for the children associated with School of Nature’s regular programs. This workshop aims to explore the power of visual storytelling as a means of creative expression, communication, and social engagement. 

It will benefit the participants to gain a deeper understanding of storytelling through visual mediums. Hands-on experience in developing characters, storyboards, and sequential narratives. Exposure to collaborative and participatory storytelling methods which would help the participants to be inclusive towards their surroundings. Fostering the idea of coexistence among young minds.

We are two facilitators aiming to reach 40 children through 2 workshops during a span of 10 days. Happy Children’s Library has aided us by extending a contribution of the stationary materials required for the workshop. Feel free to reach out to learn the budget breakdown/ details, or if you would like to cover the individual components of it, we shall be truly grateful. Every penny of your contribution will allow us to extend this learning to one more child.