RB-PFP & IBM @ Harijana Colony,
Lakshmipuram Slums, Bangalore
Vudaiy Vallabhu (Project Manager, IBM India)
In a heart touching and a soulful experience, a part of me is humbled to see the impact that a small step can make. I am deeply inspired by IBM’s Go Green Initiative and keen to do my little bit. Backed with a platform of Soulbath Peace Foundation - a charitable organization that super specializes at touching the deepest chords of humanity in the grassroots and bridges the sectors beyond socio economic divide I met and shared my promise to Planet Earth with different types, shapes & abilities of people.
In front of me seated 30 children, 11 – 18 years of age, at the end of a busy Saturday evening – they gathered to be inspired to do something – few were partially hearing impaired where the visually stimulating IBM’s Go Green presentation helped,
The children come from Govt Schools in the neighborhood & acknowledged that they had never Children ever heard this information. It was new as they were developments around the world and it was simple and easy to do. The IBM Go Green kit was strengthened by the practical experience that can as an example in action from the Raj Bhowmik Plastic Free Planet Movement.
The children realized that they go every day to the shops and use the plastic covers and there was huge pile of plastic every where near their colony . Children realized the impact long term of what this usage causes and pumps into the Planet Earth & an action of just 5 min usage of plastic bag can have such a meaningful option of using the RB-PFP cotton bags to Reduce Plastic covers. They quantified the amount of waste their homes are generating and planned to work on how they can use the actively Reduce , Reuse and Recycle to contain the waste that they generate every day at home .
Students were inspired to have dialogues with their parents to receive cooperation so that it will help their colony. Discussion on Packing material gave them an understanding on why Packaging is needed and how to choose the product which we do no waste or unnecessary package. The Children were very receptive to the CORPORitual Values Of Living that taugh them practical steps of Leadership in Life and standing for a Purpose that would help many people and the Earth..
I thank grateful from the bottom of my heart to my Life Coach Sri Raj Bhowmik who has practically taught me how to lead a sustainable life. IBM Go Green Initiative is a platform that I truly respect to help spread this awareness to more children to create a Cleaner & Happy Earth Thank IBM. Thank You Soulbath Peace Foundation.
Vijaya Vallabhu (SAHHEAL Healing Consultant )
Soulbath Peace Foundation and the Founder Sri Raj Bhowmik believes that when any initiative is taken towards making a better future for the next generation the awareness should spread at an individual level reaching out to the grass roots of the society. This was the main intention as we entered to spread awareness in the Harijana colony slums in Lakshmipuram where hundreds of families live in small narrow lane. The constant problems they face are clogged drains due to plastic and this was mainly due to the lack of awareness. We could reach out to 30 children of age group 11 and above to understand the importance and the urgency to become aware and act towards the cleaner and greener tomorrow.
The workshop was started with a thank you note to IBM and Soulbath Peace Foundation for paving a platform to spread the need to act now towards getting a cleaner and safer tomorrow.The importance of the 3 R’s was discussed using IBM’s “Go Green kids” activity kit.The concept of reduce was explained in terms of how we can act towards reducing the waste generation, reducing the consumption of plastic, how plastic can be replaced with cloth bags citing the examples of RB-PFP bags was explained.The concept of reuse was introduced and was discussed on how the old clothes, old books and old CD’s, equipment can be reused and shared .The next concept of recycle was discussed with examples of the energy and the cost incurred in recycling plastic which was just a burden and the children realized that the only way is to stop using plastic. The examples of how top companies like IBM are reusing the older parts to make more advance systems was discussed. These examples served as an eye opener to the kids as they could relate their role and responsibility towards their contribution as an individual to the society.
This was followed by the discussion on the CORPORitual values of living which helped the children understand how they can change themselves and thereby change the entire world around them by contributing in their own unique way. The children realized the need to practice compassion and how being compassionate to the surroundings means conscious contribution to their environment. They all promised that they would take the concept of 3R’s back home and stop using plastic from today. They were so motivated that they are ready to even change their parents.
They thanked IBM and Sri Raj Bhowmik for coming into their lives and spreading the awareness among them. I thank Soulbath Peace Foundation for another heart touching workshop which would definitely make a change in the way of living of these Children. Thank you .