2026-03-04

The Valedictory Function of the Wings of Awareness environmental education programme was successfully conducted at AKJM Higher Secondary School, Kanjirappally, marking the culmination of the school’s participation in this unique nature-learning initiative. The programme was implemented by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) and funded by the Buimerc India Foundation, aiming to nurture environmental awareness and bird observation skills among students. The programme was held at the school podium with the enthusiastic presence of students and teachers, creating a lively and celebratory atmosphere.

The session commenced with a serene prayer song by the school choir, setting a reflective tone for the event. This was followed by the welcome address delivered by student Harsha T.H., who warmly welcomed the distinguished guests and participants. In her speech, she greeted the TIES team members – Dr. Punnen Kurian (Director, TIES), Mr. Sarath Babu (Nature Education Officer, TIES), and Ms. Suhaana (Project Officer, Wings of Awareness) – along with the school leadership including Principal Fr. Agustian Pedikamalayil SJ and School Manager Fr. Peter Mulluparambil SJ.

Following the welcome, student Anchal Ratheesh delivered an informative speech introducing the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) and its mission of promoting ecological awareness, biodiversity conservation, and nature education among young learners through initiatives such as the Wings of Awareness programme.

The inaugural address was delivered by Principal Fr. Agustian Pedikamalayil SJ, who spoke appreciatively about the Wings of Awareness project and the positive impact it has had on the students. He highlighted how the initiative has encouraged students to observe nature more closely and develop a deeper sense of responsibility towards protecting biodiversity.

The valedictory address was then delivered by Dr. Punnen Kurian, Director of TIES. In his speech, he reflected on the objectives and achievements of the Wings of Awareness programme and emphasized the importance of engaging students in nature observation and citizen science activities. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Buimerc India Foundation for their generous support in funding the programme and enabling such meaningful environmental education initiatives to reach schools and students. Dr. Punnen further encouraged students to continue observing birds and documenting nature around them, reminding them that every observation contributes to a greater understanding of biodiversity.

As a token of appreciation, Dr. Punnen Kurian presented the school memento to Principal Fr. Agustian Pedikamalayil SJ and Manager Fr. Peter Mulluparambil SJ, acknowledging the school’s wholehearted support and cooperation in successfully implementing the programme.

The programme then moved on to the distribution of Amateur Birder Certificates to the top-performing students, which was carried out by Mr. Sarath Babu along with the School Manager. A total of 11 students from AKJM Higher Secondary School were awarded the title of “Amateur Birder” in recognition of their outstanding participation and contributions to bird observation and documentation during the Wings of Awareness project. Certificates for the teacher coordinators were presented by Dr. Punnen Kurian, appreciating their dedicated guidance and continuous support throughout the project.

Following the certificate distribution, participating students and teachers of the Wings of Awareness programme took to the stage to share their experiences. They spoke enthusiastically about their journey of learning to identify birds, documenting observations, and the excitement of engaging directly with nature through the project.

A felicitation speech was delivered by Ms. Suhaana, Project Officer of Wings of Awareness, who appreciated the active participation of the students and acknowledged the valuable support extended by the school management and teachers in making the programme a success.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Lakshmishree, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to the TIES team, Buimerc India Foundation, school management, teachers, and students for their collective efforts in making the Wings of Awareness programme a meaningful and memorable experience.

The valedictory function thus marked a proud and inspiring moment for the school community, celebrating the students’ journey into the fascinating world of birds and nature observation while reinforcing the importance of environmental stewardship among the younger generation