Visit to CleanPlast

Harleen, Daisuke, and Ryusuke (the interns of EduCARE) visited “Clean Plast” on 12th of March in order to get some information about the local environmental issue. We achieved to get some valuable knowledge from Mr.B.S.Jassar, general manager of “Clean Plast”. So I’m going to share them now.

Overview

They`re recycling-facility in Hoshiarpur. They work for 24 hours. Their monthly production is 900t. They contract with Reliance Industries, that has a polymer production factory at Hoshiarpur.. Their raw material is empty bottle like Mineral water. They crash, wash and dry these bottles at their factory, and finally they make shape of flakes for clothes. They send their final products to other Reliance`s factories too.

Supply-Chain

First, migrants collect these bottles, trashed on the road, and they sell these bottles to local small shop. Other company, contracts with Clean Plast, collects bottles from these small shops and send to them. They recycle only clear bottles and send colored-bottles to other company. They collect bottles from 6 or 7 states, like Punjab and Delhi.

Their objective

・To be an environment friendly organization

・To use garbage and definitely create environmental system

・To make this organization sustainable one

Some questions to Mr.B.S.Jassar

What do you think of many garbage trashed?

India has lots of people, so we have lots of garbage. Currently, Indian government tries to reduce the population. Moreover, trashing garbage is a bad habit of Indian people. Government is now aiming to reduce the amount of garbage within 10years through recycling.

Please let us know about education system in India.

Currently, the literacy rate in India is 70%. The one in Punjab state is 76%, and the one in Hoshiarpur is 85%. In Punjab state, Boys are provided with education for free up to 15 or 16 years old. On the other hand, Girls are provided with education for free up to around 20 years old. Girls are also provided with bicycle for free. For long time, in India, only male went to school, and female didn`t. In order for girls to be more educated, government tries to give incentive to them.

Please let us know about garbage collection system around here.

Government made Pollution Control Division. They try to control the amount of garbage. At present, each state creates some regulation and check system. In Punjab state, if a factory brake some regulation, they`re fined. In Clean Plast, Officials come to check the water pollution level quarterly.

Do you know why any garbage collection car doesn`t come to Janauri?

They doesn`t have municipal committee, that`s why any garbage car doesn`t come. However, Punjab state tries to create garbage system in Janauri, this project is undergoing.

What do you think of NGOs like us?

He thinks NGOs have a really important role, and also said to us government wants to cooperate with NGO, because they want to know actual situation in each area.

Future Plan

・To increase production(but now depends on demands ) and to make this area free-of garbage

After this interview, they showed us inside of that facility and all the process. They also show us how to make the shape of flakes.

This visiting finished successfully. The information which we got from “Clean Plast” facility is very useful for our activities of SWASH and REstore.

REstore Dosarka Open

Hi, I’m Daisuke Yoshida, one of the EduCARE India’s interns from Japan. I’m student of WASEDA University in Japan and I’m working for this organization during my spring vacation. Today, I want to tell you about my project, REsotre Dosarka.

On 19th of March 2012, we finally achieved to open REstore Dosarka. Two Japanese interns (Daisuke and Naoki) held the opening event “Japan Day”. At first, we introduced the customers about Japanese cultures, where are famous Japanese places, what is poplar Japanese subculture and so on. And then, we made the presentation about REstore Dosarka, what is REstore, what we want to do. We got only 3 customers. But they looked very interested in our activities. So, regardless of the number of customers, we can say the event finished successfully. However, of course we must increase the number in the future. 

As the open of REstore Dosarka, I would like to inform you about REstore in details.

REstore Dosarka Goals/Objectives
The REstore Project will focus on two core objectives:
▼ Illuminating the local people and improving the environmental issue
→Through visiting to REstore, buying eco-friendly products and reading the posters which explain about environmental issue, the customers can get knowledge of global environmental issue and how to dispose waste.
▼ Producing local key-persons who are willing to make positive impact for the society
→Through mini library or interactive communication between interns and local people (especially local students) at the Restore, we want to create opportunities which make local people be interested in the development of their own areas, state, nation.

Hello everyone!!

My name is Ryusuke, from Japan.

I`m one of the interns at EduCARE India and also

REstore manager in Janauri.

This time I`d like to introduce my project.

On March 9th, I held an event at migrant`s community Paro.

In Janauri and Paro, some migrants from Rajasthan live there and make communities. They pick some garbage up and sell for living. Migrant`s children also have to work because their income is very low. So our center is facilitating a MCE program. MCE stands for Marginalised Community Empowerment. In that program, we try to teach the children about nutrition, hygiene, English, Punjabi, and so on.

Through my internship, I found they have really dangerous problem. I found this burned toothpaste-tube in their community. They seem to burn these tubes, plastic-bags, and plastic-tray, and they breathe these smoke. That`s very dangerous for their health. So, I thought I have to teach them what is good or bad for burning. Moreover, I want them to use candles as cleaner energy.

This time, we went to their community and asked them some quiz questions: what is good or bad for burning. Besides, I told a story, showing their children some pictures. This story is about a boy`s life. The message is “always try to do your best” and “You can change your life for yourself”.

At first, only a few people took part in my program, but many people got interested in my project gradually. Children could easily understand the story due to local people`s help with translation.

After telling the story, we talked with the community`s leader about education. Through this conversation, we found that Punjab state government tries to provide all children with some opportunities to education for free.

Moreover, one of the adults in that community seems to be interested in getting those chances. So, there are some gaps between them. However, if we can remove these gaps, we will be able to help migrant`s children go to school.

But, I was so sad when I asked the kids whether you`re interested in school or not, their answers ware “No”. Through this moment, I really thought talking with local people is really important to do some activities.

Next, I asked them some quiz questions about what is good or bad for burning. 3 children and many adults took part in this program.

At first, they answer paper is bad for burning because it is really dirty and plastic-bag is good for burning. But when I finished asking all the questions, they can answer accurately.

When I show them candles, one of the adults told us they tried to buy candles before and they really want to know how to make candles. So, we made candles with migrant`s children and adults at REstore on March 12th.

Hello everyone!

My name is Ryusuke, from Japan. I`m one of the interns at EduCARE India and also

REstore manager in Janauri.REstore is information center about environmental awareness

and also selling eco-friendly products like organic soap, vinegar, and baking soda.

This time I`d like to introduce my project.

 

On February 24th, I held an event at REstore. In it, I made a presentation about 3R, Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. Moreover, as one of the examples of recycle, I made recycle-candles through used-candles.

Through this event, I`d like to enlighten local people about environmental awareness and also like them to get interested in recycle through making candles.

In this event, I asked a shopkeeper (He is really helpful!!) to help me with translation. So, I could communicate with local people.In Janauri, most of the people can speak only Hindi and Punjabi, so language- barrier is always big problem for us every time we do some activities with locals.

Totally, 9 people came to my event, so I`m not satisfied with the number of participants. I`d like to hold an event with more and more people, so I have to consider solution like how to advertise.

In a few days, I was involved in After School Program, and I played football with children. After that, one of the children who took participate in my event pointed at the garbage in the puddle and said to me “Ryusuke, Pollution!! Pollution!!”

Moreover, I saw one of the participants who helps me with translation talked with others about recycle without my help.I was really happy to hear that. I want to hold another event soon, and at the event I also want to do my best.

Thank you for reading my blog!!!

Ryusuke

REstore Manager Janauri

New vegetable garden for the Adampur Trash Pickers!

On Wednesday, September 7^th ViKAS Centre interns had the exciting new assignment of initiating a farm plot in the migrant community in Adampur. We have been working with the migrant community of 31 members since April 2011 on various issues of health, nutrition, hygiene, sanitation, economic sustainability, waste management and education.  They face a complex range of social, health and environmental issues that we seek to address in a holistic and integrated way to improve their overall living conditions through building a partnership of trust and respect. One of the main problems faced in this community is poor or inadequate nutrition.  Many members only eat once a day in order to save money and their level of awareness on a balanced diet is limited.  Therefore, as a first step at improving their nutrition levels and awareness we helped them clear the land for planting of a range of vegetables.

The Land before cultivation

To start the job, Interns took turns cutting grass and weeds in order to clear a square plot of land located just behind the community. This task was at times challenging due to the heat but everyone persevered.

Mr B, Dan, Yvan and Hiroki all hard at work

 Once the land was cleared interns began planting vegetable seeds. Some of these included radish, spinach, peas, and chili.

Gulshan,Alex,Suzy and Dan planting seeds

Unfortunately, our organic farming team was away at a workshop and unable to give their advice, but the rest of the interns came together and used their collective knowledge to plant successfully.  However, our organic farm team will be visiting the plot later this week to give their inputs and advice on companion planting, organic pest management and weed control.

                  The next step for the land is to shield it from unwanted animals. Even while the interns were planting seeds, a heard of water buffalo tried to intrude, but we made sure that they got the message and scared them away, as well as spoke to their owner about keeping them off this plot of land.

The current crop of EduCARE interns after a hard days work
Names from back row left to Right, Yvan,Dan, Liz, Nick, Julia, hiroki, Alvin, Rachael, Alex,
middle row: Rieke, Tono, Yuki, Shantie,
front row: Gulshan, Suzi

             Overall, the day was a success and if the community tends to the land with our help and guidance, it should thrive with vegetables for them in the future. This is a first step to help improve their diet and nutrition levels as well as save them money for the future. We hope also in the coming weeks to extend this plot to include more vegetables. We will be sure to keep you updated on the progress of this project!