2025-09-19

The Wings of Awareness orientation session was conducted at Mary Matha Public School, Edakkunnam, as part of the district-wide initiative organized by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) conceived and supported by Buimerc India Foundation. The programme is designed to inspire students to connect with nature through bird watching and naturalist training, nurturing environmental awareness and conservation values among young learners. The project will be implemented across 20 schools in Kottayam District, engaging around 1,000 students and 60 teachers.

The welcome address was given by Ms. Riya Rony, student coordinator.  This was followed by the introductory remarks of Dr. Nelson P. Abraham, Vice President of TIES, who outlined the vision and goals of the Wings of Awareness project. He emphasized the importance of cultivating curiosity, observation skills, and responsibility towards nature in students.

The inaugural address was delivered by Rev. Sr. Rosmin SABS, Principal of the school. In her address, she expressed deep appreciation for the implementation of such an innovative programme in the school and highlighted the importance of developing harmony between young learners and the natural world.

Following the formal inaugural session, a baseline survey was conducted. Teachers and students actively participated by filling out questionnaires designed to assess their initial awareness and attitudes toward birds and the environment. This survey will serve as a foundation for evaluating the impact of the programme in the months ahead.

The main session of the day was an engaging class on ornithology and bird watching, conducted by Mr. Sarath Babu, Nature Education Officer of TIES. Through his interactive presentation, students were introduced to the diversity of bird species, their habits, and practical techniques of bird identification. The lively interactions reflected the enthusiasm of the students to explore nature and learn the skills of a budding naturalist.

The concluding session featured the introduction of the CROW (Children's Resources for Ornithology and Wilderness) app by Ms. Suhaana, Project Officer of Wings of Awareness. She explained how the app can be used to record bird sightings and contribute to citizen science initiatives, offering the students a chance to actively participate in conservation efforts through technology.

The orientation programme at Mary Matha Public School, Edakkunam, marked a promising beginning for the Wings of Awareness initiative in the institution. With the enthusiastic involvement of students, guidance from teachers, and support of TIES, the session paved the way for a journey of discovery, learning, and commitment to nature conservation.

The programme was coordinated by Manju Mary, faculty from Mary Matha Public School and Limna Alena Baby, intern from TIES.