Waste Warriors’ waste man-woman has become a popular mascot among our communities. Decorated with colorful plastic waste, it’s attractive, playful, and also acts as a reminder to think about all that we consume and dispose of on a daily basis. In waste, we often quote the saying, ‘Out of sight, out of mind’. Though when a waste mascot, laden with plastic, interacts with people, it is difficult to not have questions for the mascot and your own selves.
For last year’s Environment Day celebrations across Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, Suyash Ramesh Dhage, a volunteer from TISS (Hyderabad), went around enthusiastically as Kachraman in Kempty Falls, near Mussoorie. This visual blow, especially for children, compelled them to rethink their consumption.
Suyash expresses, “At first, I felt nervous and conscious as people looked at me strangely as if I was dressed up in waste materials. However, with the team’s support, I found the confidence to approach people during the event”.
For Waste Warriors, Environment Day is full of action. In other project locations, a range of public-engaging activities were organized to really celebrate the spirit of World Environment Day.
Bringing in creative mediums like art, music, dance, puppetry, and more in our awareness-raising activities helps blend education and entertainment for local citizens and tourists alike.
We joined forces with local NGOs in Dharamshala for an energetic flash mob at the McLeodganj square, captivating tourists, followed by a powerful human chain formation.
We also organized a bi-cyclathon cleanup with the Indian Forest Service in Dehradun, set up engaging exhibitions displaying our upcycled products, art created by our workshop participants, and also had our own kachraman and women in Rishikesh and Bir. Interacting with kids and participants and answering their questions whilst having fun. Also got children painting in art competitions, participated in panchayat meetings, and lent our hand in plantation drives.
The strength of having a complete ecosystem fighting against plastic pollution was quite evident.
