2026-03-25

The campus of Excelsior English School, Illickal, buzzed with environmental enthusiasm during the recently concluded valedictory function of "Wings of Awareness," an amateur bird-watching project. This unique initiative, implemented by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES) and generously supported by the Buimerc India Foundation, has successfully completed its mission of turning students into keen observers of the natural world. Before the official proceedings began, the TIES team conducted a comprehensive post-project survey among participating students and teachers to measure the impact of the program and the depth of avian knowledge gained over the project duration.

The formal ceremony commenced with a moment of quiet reflection during a silent prayer, followed by a warm welcome address by Teacher Coordinator Ms. Preeja S. She expressed her delight at the project's success and formally welcomed the distinguished guests, including Dr. Nelson Abraham (Vice President of TIES), Ms. Suhaana (Project Officer, Wings of Awareness), and Mrs. Rosey Mathew (School Correspondent), along with the dedicated faculty and student body. In her inaugural address, Mrs. Rosey Mathew spoke passionately about the indispensable role birds play in maintaining ecological balance. She shared her personal joy in observing the diverse bird species that visit the school campus daily and congratulated the students for their disciplined participation in such a significant environmental endeavor.

Providing a technical perspective on the project’s success, Dr. Nelson Abraham delivered the valedictory speech, where he shared key insights into the project's outcomes and the impressive data gathered by the budding ornithologists. He extended his sincere gratitude to the school management for their unwavering cooperation and paid a special tribute to the Buimerc India Foundation, whose support was the backbone of this initiative. A proud moment for the institution followed as the official project report and a commemorative school memento were presented to the management, marking the formal documentation of the school's contribution to local biodiversity studies.

The highlights of the afternoon continued with the distribution of certificates to the top-performing students, recognizing their keen observation skills and consistency. The Teacher Coordinators were also honored with Certificates of Appreciation for their vital role in mentoring the participants. The audience was then treated to firsthand accounts of the project as students Raghunandhan ., Irene, and Isabel took to the stage. They shared moving reflections on their journey with "Wings of Awareness," describing how the project transformed their walks through nature into educational adventures.

In her felicitation speech, Ms. Suhaana congratulated the achievers and thanked both TIES and Buimerc for launching such a high-impact initiative. She lauded the teachers for ensuring the project activities ran smoothly despite academic pressures and encouraged the students to never stop looking at the sky, reminding them that protecting nature starts with observing it. The event drew to a close with a gracious vote of thanks by Teacher Coordinator Ms. Sajana, who thanked the organizers, guests, and students for making the "Wings of Awareness" project a landmark success for Excelsior English School.