I conducted two workshops at Panjab University to introduce students to the Sustainability Leaders Program and Mentorship Program. The first session was held at the School of Communication Studies, moderated by Dr Bhavneet Bhatti. The second session was held at the Centre for Social Work, facilitated by Dr Gaurav Gaur.
The SLP is a 4-8 weeks structured internship program for grade 8th-12th students. The program teaches students about sustainable waste management and how they can play a role in sustaining source segregation of waste. The curriculum is divided into two parts: a 4-week beginner's program and a 4-week advanced program. Each part consists of two hours of instruction per week.
The beginner's program covers the basics of sustainable waste management, such as the 5Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle, recover, and refuse). Students also learn about different waste management practices and how they can be implemented in the real world at individual and community levels.
The advanced program focuses on more complex topics, such as ecosystem mapping and stakeholder analysis. Students also learn how to develop and pitch practical solutions to waste management problems.
The Sustainability Leaders Program is a great opportunity for students to learn about sustainable waste management and how they can make a difference in their community. The program is also a great way to develop skills in problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
The Mentorship Program is designed to support the Sustainability Leaders Program. About the Mentors, I informed about the eligibility conditions for being a mentor, the role of a mentor, what do mentors gain from the program and how to apply to be a mentor. Mentors are college students who are willing to invest 2-3 hours every week to help students learn about sustainable waste management. Mentors can join students on field visits or connect with them virtually. They can also provide general mentoring or specialized topic-wise mentoring. Mentors also evaluate student performances and assist with running the program.
Mentor’s registration form, available online on our program website.
To become a mentor, students must complete an online application form. Here students give some personal information, some program-related preferences and their goals for joining the program. After registration, mentors would be sent a short questionnaire testing their basic knowledge of solid waste management activities and their skills. Based on achieving a minimum score, mentors would be selected.
The sessions at Panjab University were well-received by the attending college students. Dr. Bhavneet Bhatti complimented me on my energy and commended me as their youngest resource person. I am sharing the video recording links from the two sessions below.
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