Sustainable development is the path to a better future for everyone. Sustainable living is a way of life that aims to limit an individual’s or society’s consumption of our planet’s natural resources and preserving them for future generations.
With an aim to learn more about sustainable development and ways to lead a sustainable living, a group of six students namely Anvi Gupta, Heeya Bedi, Samaira Sandhu, Yashvi Jain, Tashveen Sirphikhi and Tanvi Nagpal with their teacher delegate Mrs Bindiya Khanna attended the Virtual Regional Collaboration hosted by The Millennium School, Dubai on ‘A sustainable Today for a resilient tomorrow’ on 5th and 6th April 2022. It was based on the Environment Ideal of Round Square where the students collaborated in finding solutions for Sustainability.
The delegates were very enthusiastic about the conference wherein the theme was to make sustainability a way of life. The first day began with a welcome address by Ms. Ambika Gulati, the principal of The Millennium School. She urged the delegates to take small actions in their daily lives that can add up and will have a huge impact on reaching sustainability.
Later, Ms Neha Sinha, Biodiversity expert and wildlife author, shared an insightful presentation on the interdependence of living and non-living components in ecosystems and importance of conserving biodiversity. She emphasised on the need to achieve ecological sustainability and reducing carbon footprint.
The students then proceeded to various baraza groups in their respective breakout rooms, which included food, fashion, digital gadgets, water, land, fossil fuels, plastic, and the environment. It started with the ice breaking session to know about the delegates from other schools. The students then discussed the challenges related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ways to promote an equitable, environmentally sustainable, and healthy society related to their topic.
Ms. Rajbir Sandhu, Schools Support Director for South Asia and the Gulf, concluded the day with an uplifting message.
On the second day, individual workshops on home composting, trash to treasure, upcycled gift wrapping, and art and craft from odds and ends kicked off. During the workshop, delegates participated in hands-on activity to learn how to reuse the materials that are readily available and make something unique with them rather than throwing them away, which would otherwise end up in landfills.
The workshop was followed by the presentations by the delegates on their learning from the virtual collaboration and preparing manifesto in line with the sustainable Development Goals.
After the presentations, Ms. Lini Shivaprasad, vice principal of The Millennium School, Dubai concluded the day with an inspiring and motivating address.
The Round Square virtual collaboration was very informative, and the delegates had an enriching experience while communicating with students from other schools, conducting research, and learning about the global scenario. It is very well said, “The key to the future is one word: sustainability”.
