This week has been fully packed with workshops for adolescent boys Lead by our guest trainer from Pune Rahoul. These lively sessions have been hugely enjoyed by the boys for whom this is the first opportunity they have had to ask questions about the changes that take place during adolescence. They went away much more thoughtful about their role in society.

We are having a very busy time packing all the workshops for adolescents into the unexpectedly early school summer holidays. Last week 40 girls attended two workshops which, because the girls all came from remote village areas were extended to two days. This allowed our team to not only cover the physical and emotional changes that take place during adolescence and nutrition but also yoga, first aid and discussions about social issues and thinking about their futures. The single women activist from the area stayed with the girls overnight so they had someone familiar with them.

In order to create a recreation pavilion and mushroom growing shed, our staff are clearing all the cut stones from the land. These will be used to build up the base of the pavilion. It will be a wonderful space for children, students and workshop participants to enjoy outdoor activities.

The plot next door to the clinic has been sold and we need to secure our boundary so we are re-aligning our wall. Our brave team are laboriously carrying rocks for a foundation on their heads from the farm across the fields to the clinic. Far from grumbling, they laugh and chatter, enjoying the change of activity and working together.

Twelve staff and children from Nishtha visited the new waste management unit set up by the Dharamsala Municipal Corporation along with Waste Warriors near the cricket stadium. They have a machine to compress water bottles and other hard plastic to be sent for re-cycling. A liquid waste management system which produces electricity and compost has also been set up but because mixed waste is still being collected from the city it is impossible to keep the process hygienic. Our group were shocked at the conditions in which the workers have to work. We remain committed to educating everyone to segregate their own wet and dry waste and to encourage the MC garbage collectors to keep it separate.

Nishtha plays an active part in the Dharamsala Environmental Preservation Network who are working to strengthen their organisation to be able to effectively lobby the government to enforce littering and garbage disposal rules for hotels and homestays. Our team continues to work tirelessly in the village to educate people by example to pick up litter and segregate biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.

Ananya and Eshika, who study at Chandigarh University joined our team for a week to gain experience of working in an NGO. Ravindra organised their time so they were able to learn about and join in one of our health education clinics, the childrens program, distributing supplies to the schools and in waste collection and segregation. We were happy to have been able to provide such willing and helpful students with this opportunity.

Children learn about how to eat well by being provided with regular good food. Nishtha provides fresh fruits, vegetables and tofu to supplement their school midday meal of rice and dal, establishing eating habits to last a lifetime.

Our team were super busy on June 5th, Environment Day. In the morning they visited three of our mountain schools where the team performed a skit highlighting the importance of keeping the water channels clear and clean, not cutting trees and of segregating waste, not burning it so that it doesn’t destroy our clean air. In the afternoon they joined in the event in McLeod Ganj along with 7 other local organisations to spread awareness of the urgent need to protect the environment.

Our plastic weaving demo at Nishtha’s stall at the Rakkar village mela was a great attraction for the local people. They appreciated the message that re-using waste plastic is not only good for the environment but can also provide very useful sitting mats.