Friday 24 January 2020

Showcasing KEDI on 2nd International Day of Education

My visit to Vadodara in December 2019 led to an introduction to KEDI (Kids for Environmental Development Initiatives) the innovative project founded by communications expert and environmentalist Hitarth Pandya. This Jan 24, 2020, is the apt time to showcase KEDI as the world celebrates the second ever International Day of Education with the theme
“Learning for people, planet, prosperity and peace”

Now KEDI, piloted in Sant Kabir Indian International School in Vadodara, Gujarat brings environmental studies out of textbooks and into the lives and the curriculum of the students. Now its apt that Sant Kabir is the first place to promote this initiative as the school's motto is
Nurturing Minds for Sustainable Development!

The students learn by doing and throughout their schooling are on track to becoming eco-friendly individuals promoting a sustainable living. In middle school itself they are en route to becoming experts in regenerative agriculture and a farm-to-table and homesteading way-of-life at least in school. The grow and harvest vegetables and help cook it for school meals and sell it to raise funds for the program and school. This year, in 2020, the KEDI fest - Kabir Krishi Mahotsav 2020 - will be held on Republic Day: January 26th.



In addition to organic farming, the students are involved in the study and appreciation of various aspects of nature, from bird watching, documentary film-making, soil analysis, renewable energy technology, lake clean-up, campaigning against Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) and even taxidermy! As they are actually practicing sustainability and are in touch with nature, they are very articulate and clear when talking about the various environmental challenges, climate change, climate action (SDG 13) and ecological footprint of their lives (SDG12). Through this immersive learning program incorporated into the school curriculum these school students are perhaps the best advocates for the environment, organic farming, and climate action that I have come across. By participating in lake restoration and clean-up as well as active bird watching and study of biodiversity in campus and in places they clean up, these school kids are  active citizens  a 100% behind Mother Nature. At a young age they are ace environmental communicators and naturalists. They have insights into a wide-range of careers all with a strong component of sustainable development making them well-equipped for adulthood and the 21st century's ever-changing job market and problematic economy.




According to KEDI's founder's Facebook post about the latest Kabir Krishi Mahotsav 2020 since its inception the project has grown 
From a humble beginning of 100 odd students and 100 kgs of vegetables to 3000 kgs and 2000 students...
We need more such initiatives and educational institutions that embody SDG 4 (Quality Education) and the theme of the International Day of Education 2020, "Learning for People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace."