2024-08-31

Pallikoodam School, Kalathipady, Kottayam, in collaboration with TIES, hosted an enriching one-day field-cum-lab study program titled "Enjoy Learning Skills" for 10th-grade students. The program, aimed at deepening students' understanding of biodiversity conservation, featured interactive sessions and hands-on activities. Pallikoodam school initiated these training programmes as part of the Bagless Saturday, which is aimed to expose students to real-world experiences, fostering observation-based learning, practical skills, and a deeper understanding of community interconnectedness..

Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary of TIES, led a session on “Introduction to Apiculture,” where he highlighted the biology of honey bees

Following this, Mr. Sarath Babu N B, Nature Education Officer at TIES, conducted a session on “Apiculture Farming.” In his session provided a thorough overview of beekeeping practices. He covered the fundamentals of the ecosystem services of honey bees, different types of honey bees in India, importance of apiculture, hive management, diseases and challenges in apiculture. The session also highlighted the value-added products, and the economic and environmental benefits of apiculture. Mr. Sarath Babu engaged students with practical insights and encouraged interactive discussions to enhance their understanding of the field.

The educational experience continued with a field walk, where students had the opportunity to explore Apis cerana indica under careful supervision. This hands-on experience allowed them to handle a bee colony, identify drones, workers, and queens, and examine a comb. Feedback from students indicated that they now feel confident handling a bee or managing a beehive.

The training provided students with a valuable opportunity to enhance their knowledge of biodiversity conservation and fostered a sense of environmental responsibility and sustainability.

The event was coordinated by Ms. Swapna Chacko and Ms. Reba Varghese, faculties Pallikoodam School, Ms. Arya Shaji, Project Assistant; Ms. Abhirami K P, Project Manager - Green Audit, Mr. Jijomon P P, Graphic Designer at TIES. A total of 43 students participated in the training.