Every year, people connected to our partner organization in Hyderabad come together to share memories and celebrate with the children. Some brought blankets and towels for the children, while others contributed to the stock of school supplies. From the wide selection of T-shirts and skirts for young and old, all children had the chance to pick out a new outfit. Contribution Day has now become a cherished tradition.
The neighborhood connects with the children and the project team over the buffet or through small activities such as games and henna hand painting. Former residents, now adults, use the occasion to visit their former home. The Usthi office will be closed over the holidays. We look forward to starting a new Usthi year together with you on January 6, ! At the end of September, the first workshop for teachers in the region took place as part of the waste management project in Penthakata.
But what does waste management even mean? And what does it have to do with schools? These and many other questions were addressed during the first workshop with over 30 teachers in attendance. The informal village of Penthakata on the outskirts of Puri has grown significantly over the past decades. The current disposal system in the settlement is inadequate, and the waste has become a health risk for the population. A needs assessment among the population showed a strong demand for effective waste management, but there is a lack of infrastructure and knowledge on the topic.
Alongside the development of new disposal infrastructure, waste management is also being integrated into school curricula to educate the next generation on waste-related issues.
Teachers can impart essential knowledge about environmental damage caused by uncontrolled waste and discuss future-oriented topics, like the link between waste and health, with their students. Kartik Kapoor, an Indian waste management expert, laid the foundation for this effort by introducing over 30 teachers from Penthakata to the basics of waste management. Special emphasis was placed on the impact of uncontrolled waste disposal on hygiene and health. Learn more about the project. What sounds like a slogan from the old days will create new, future-oriented jobs in and contribute to the financing of Usthi projects: The textile processing center in Hyderabad, which is run by our local partner organization, was able to acquire new specialized machines for processing knitted fabrics this year.
