SERVICE-LEARNING REPORT

NAME : SAACHI NAHATA

BATCH : 2021-24
CLASS AND DIVISION : SY – C
ROLL NO. : 2257
PRN : 21020621322
NGO INTERNED AT : EXPLOREiT
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I had the great privilege to participate in ExploreiT/Climate Reality Project India as part of
my NGO internship. This was a fantastic chance for learning and career advancement. Asa
result, I am grateful to Mr. Shivam Singh, the founder of ExploreiT and a leader in climate
change, for his guidance and for giving me so many opportunities to discover my strengths
and limitations and to always push myself.
I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to my college, Symbiosis Centre for
Management Studies, in Pune, for creating the necessary framework and serving as a
steadfast support system throughout the internship.
I am also extremely appreciative that Symbiosis Centre for Management
Studies, Pune included the service learning component to our curriculum, gave
me the chance to interact with other professionals, and helped me expand my
research and development skills. I greatly value the assistance that my fellow
classmates gave me in terms of teamwork, encouragement, and making this
experience unique and would like to thank them as well.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Sr No. Topic Page No.

1 Chapter 1 3-4

2 Chapter 2 5-9

3 Chapter 3 10-18
 CHAPTER 1

The Climate Reality Project

In 2006, The Climate Reality Project Chairman and former U.S. Vice President
Al Gore sparked an international conversation on climate change with his
Academy Award-winning documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. It was just the
beginning of a climate revolution, and a year later he founded The Climate
Reality Project. At The Climate Reality Project, our mission is to catalyze a
global solution to the climate crisis by making the urgent action a necessity
across every level of society. The Climate Reality Project has branches in 10
countries. The Climate Reality Leadership Corps has been training and
empowering everyday people to become world changers – and then mobilizing
them for action. Currently, more than 20,000 diverse and dedicated volunteers
internationally called Climate Reality Leaders from over 150 countries have
been trained. Every year, Climate Reality reaches millions of households and
individuals on television and online platforms through its annual broadcast 24
Hours of Reality.

The Climate Reality Project India

The Climate Reality Project India is an independent chapter of The Climate

Reality Project (International), established in March 2008 with the help of Al
Gore and TERI. In 2009, it was incorporated as a trust in Mumbai with eminent
Indians as trustees. Apart from continuing to expand climate change training
and presentations, Climate Reality India’s work includes climate change
awareness and action programs to make a bigger impact. Programs like climate
change and sustainability education for schools and Climate Youth Leadership
Program for colleges aim to bring leadership to future generations and help
educational institutes in a transition towards a more clean and sustainable
future. Climate Reality has been working closely with partners and like- minded
organizations, with a goal to strengthen India’s Paris commitments. Some of the
campaigns are tree plantation drives, 100% committed for clean energy, water
conservation, rainwater harvesting, and support to electric mobility. The India
branch supports more than1000 trained Climate Reality Leaders who are taking
climate actions at many levels, and more than 900 volunteers spread all over the
country. Climate Reality India is developing new content to enhance community
actions, both online and on the ground.

ExploreiT

Exploreit is a team of motivated and energetic youngsters formed by the alumni

of XLRI, Jamshedpur and the students of the Symbiosis Centre for Management
Studies, Pune. The idea of the startup emerged after we’d observed a huge gap
between research and students, especially the ones pursuing their Undergraduate
degrees. We believe that there should not be a valley of difference between
recreation and education, but rather, these two elements should collaborate. Our
main objective is just this- Setting up an intellectual environment for the youth
of the country to grow holistically.

The number of students enrolling in colleges increases every year and so

does the need for knowledge providers. To tackle this, ExploreiT has a
lineup of mentors who are willing and
ready to spread their knowledge and create a collaborative environment, for all
students from all fields of study. Our mentors encourage the students to carry
out their research activities and develop a research acumen to enlighten their
academic career. Currently ExploreiT is working as a registered trust with its
office in Pune, Maharashtra. It also functions as a private limited firm for green
consultancy under the registered name of ‘Green Solutions by ExploreiT’.

The organization is majorly dependent on outsourced CSR initiatives of

corporate companies for its funding. A portion of it also comes from
crowdfunding projects backed by individuals and institutions.

Office - 102 Silver Nest, Viman Nagar, Pune, Maharashtra – 411014

Contact Person- Shivam Singh (+91 9890479345) , Founder ExploreiT,

National Coordinator for Youth - Climate Reality Project India

CHAPTER 2

Major contributions of the NGO

ExploreiT Research is a team of energetic and motivated youngsters formed by

Shivam Singh. Founded in August,2017 this organization aims at working
towards youth empowerment and climate advocacy. They came up with the
idea of this start-up when they observed a huge gap between research and the
students, especially those pursuing under-graduation.
They believe that there should not be a valley of difference between recreation
and education but they should run together and therefore they decided to set up
an intellectual environment where youth of the country could grow mentally and
morally. Over the years they have organized various campaigns, cleanups,
workshops, marathons and cyclothons and a number of treks to historical places
like Janjira fort, Tikona Fort and Mahabaleshwar.

My contributions to the NGO

I spent 126 hours volunteering with ExploreiT/Climate Reality Project India

as a part of my service learning. In order to support youth empowerment and
sustainability, we worked on a variety of programmes and initiatives.
We had to volunteer in an NGO as part of the service learning course. 30
August 2022 marked the start of the ExploreiT service learning programme,
which ran through 5 March 2023. The students must complete a total of 120
hours, and we were provided with plenty of opportunity to do so.
The project combined community engagement in the way of simple and
entertaining tasks that supplied us with learning and awareness to change us into
active citizens.The service learning project helped me learn better
communication skills and made me really aware as a citizen of this earth. SLC
helped me build awareness and sensitivity towards the current situation of the
environment and make active efforts towards its betterment to create a bright
and sustainable future.

During my course of Service Learning , I attended the following

activities :
 Activity 1 - Picture Protest for Climate Change

Date: 7 October 2022

The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interrelated.Climate

change impacts are seen throughout every aspect of the world we live in.The
compounding effects of climate change are leading to many changes in ecosystems.
Hence, relieving humans of this

problem is the need of the hour. On 7th October 2022, all the students of SCMS, Pune met
for the Picture Protest for Climate Change at the campus amphitheater. This event was
highly crucial to raise awareness of all the issues we face and their causes in light of recent
catastrophic weather changes. Also it was important to show how people, companies, or
governments impact a natural environment, to bring attention to climate change issues and
to prompt action to prevent or address this problem.

The event began with our Director, Dr Adya Sharma’s inspiring speech.We even took a
group photo with our umbrellas to demonstrate our dedication towards this cause and fight
this battle together. We further sent a postcard to express our opposition to the severe
effects of air pollution brought on by fossil fuels. All of us demonstrated our will to fight
for our climate by doing this. Young people's infectious concern and bravery in speaking
out against climate inaction was incredibly encouraging. Children and adults are utilizing
strong and innovative strategies to assert a voice and a political platform in society,
confront the greatest challenge of our time, and live up to their potential despite the fact
that climate change is dimming their lives and their prospects for a liveable future.
 Activity 2 - Green Jobs Conclave
On 15th December 2022, As a part of Green Campus Program, Green Jobs Conclave was
held at Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Pune in collaboration with Climate
Reality Project, India & Adar Poonawalla Clean City and ExploreiT. It was organized to
enlighten the students
about Green jobs and how they contribute to preserving or restoring the environment, be
they in traditional sectors such as manufacturing and construction or in new, emerging
green sectors such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The Conclave started with the national anthem, and after that, hosts gave a brief about
green jobs and how it helps in improving energy and raw materials efficiency, limiting
greenhouse gas emissions, Minimizing waste and pollution, Protecting and restoring
ecosystems, and Supporting
adaptation to the effects of climate change. Dr. Adya Sharma, the Director, SCMS Pune
and the Academic Host for the event, addressed the audience and felicitated the guest
panel.
After the discussion, students had a lot of questions and queries, so we had an open-house
discussion.
Lastly, Mr. Shivam Singh , the Founder of ExploreiT and National Coordinator for Youth
Engagement at The Climate Reality Project India , delivered the vote of thanks.

Activity 3 - Lohegaon Clean up Drive

This cleanup drive held at Lohegaon AirForce Station Circle had a huge turnout and
proved to be extremely successful too. The entire crowd was divided into teams and each
team was provided cleaning kits and gloves for the same.
The drive ended by 10am with the collective efforts of each member who were able to
collect bags full of all sorts of garbage like plastic bottles, crumpled pieces of papers,
broken bangles, discarded cardboard etc. The path was extremely long and we could clean
up only a part but we believe that each step taken for betterment adds to the miles we
need to cover. Towards the end, we all clicked a group photograph with the entire team.
This cleanup drive taught us the importance of keeping our surroundings clean.
 Activity 4 - Viman Nagar Mega Cleanup Drive

On 21st January, we were asked to assemble at 7:30am at Gate 5. ExploreIT conducted a

cleanup drive on campus which was under Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC ) . After a
group photo was taken, everyone was divided into teams of 10 and we were all given a
specific route to take. Each team leader received a green bag and we were instructed to
collect posters off trees and garbage along a 2km stretch. At the end of our drive, we were
given a final destination. The final destination for my group was Camelot and we took a
geotagged picture there after cleaning up our trash. Each team was given different routes
so we could cover more and more areas and conduct the cleanup efficiently. Our efforts
were appreciated and we were successful in collecting several kgs of garbage.
 Activity 5 - Lohagad Fort Trek
At Lohagad Fort, ExploreIt organized a cleanup effort. At seven in the morning, everyone
met at Gate 3, and then we departed for Lohagad. After a two-hour bus ride, we were told
to divide into groups of ten, and one member of each group was given a green bag to
collect rubbish at the fort. We walked all the way to the fort in 1.5 hours. It was a stunning
path that was also very difficult. Everyone gathered outside the fort before climbing it.
The fort was quite well made and also had lovely architecture. We gathered at the peak,
which served as our checkpoint, where there was a Hanuman Mandir and a Darga. The
view was spectacular and we took a group picture after which we were instructed to begin
with the cleanup.
Since the fort was already fairly clean and had minimal garbage for us to gather, we
continued our cleanup on the road where the entrance to the fort was located. We cleaned
for an hour before descending and heading back to our buses.
It was a hard experience that was completely different from what we were used to, but
after we had the cleanup done, it felt amazing.
 Activity 6 - Forest Road Cleanup
At 7:30am, we all gathered at the designated spot on the forest road. In the background,
some people could be heard playing cricket. We were split into two groups, each group
taking one side of the road. Our mission was to collect any garbage we encountered along
our journey. Upon our return to the starting point, we had to throw the collected waste into
various collection bins placed throughout the road. It was a great experience to spend the
morning picking up garbage and helping preserve the beauty of the nature around us
Activity 7 - Adopt a Plant
Adopt a plant is a great initiative started by SLC that appears to be nearly buying a plant
but is much more than that because it reminds us every day about the importance of water
to the plants and their role in the smooth functioning of our day-to-day lives and
disciplines us about taking care of them and ensuring that we maintain greenness in our
surroundings. I bought my plant from a stall set up on the college campus, and since then
I've been watering and caring for it, hoping to keep it growing and green.

Activity 8 - International Youth and Sustainability Festival

Day 1
The International Youth and Sustainability Festival was a two-day event where
students and researchers were given a platform where they can explore,
structure, and present their thoughtful sustainable ideas. It was jointly hosted by
Symbiosis International (Deemed University), ExploreiT, Adar Poonawalla
Clean City Initiative, and The Climate Reality Project, India.

The event started with the inaugural ritual of IYSF 2023 wherein all students
were seated in the auditorium after receiving the delegate id cards from the
registration desks.

After registering and collecting our delegate ID cards, we were seated in the
college auditorium for the IYSF 2023 inauguration ceremony. The inaugural
event, which also featured a prayer performance, lamp illumination, and a
lecture from each of the principal guest speakers, established the festival's
agenda. The meeting's topic was "Waste, Water, and Energy," and Mr.
Rajendra Singh Ji was the keynote speaker.

After a short break, the speakers led concurrent seminars in the classrooms on a
variety of sustainability-related topics. I attended Dr. Erach Bharucha's, director
of BVIEER, training on "Tracking of SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals,".
He highlighted to us the role that sustainable goals play in creating a worldwide
framework for human and environmental well-being both today and in the near
future. Then came the break for lunch. We proceeded to another workshop
following lunch. I attended Workshop 6, where we learned about environmental
laws, their enforcement, difficulties, and potential solutions from Symbiosis
Law School faculty member Dr. Sujata Arya.

After the workshop was over, a closing ceremony was conducted where all of
the presenters and moderators gave us an overview of the subjects covered in
the concurrent workshops. Last but not least, a cultural event showcasing
performances by Dramebaaz(the drama group), Encore(the Music Group), and
Step Up (the dance group) was staged in the auditorium. To end the evening, a
classical ensemble performed a poignant concert. In conclusion, I think the
opening day of IYSF 2023 was very educational, enjoyable, and invigorating,
making it a huge success.
Day 2

The International Youth and Sustainability Festival was a two-day event where
students and researchers were given a platform where they can explore,
structure, and present their thoughtful sustainable ideas. It was jointly hosted by
Symbiosis International (Deemed University), ExploreiT, Adar Poonawalla
Clean City Initiative, and The Climate Reality Project, India.

Around 9 AM, a presentation on the Green Solutions Challenge initiated the

day. In this event, the top three teams were chosen to address a jury panel with a
business proposal that sought to address or mitigate an ongoing environmental
risk. The final three teams included my team, Team 9, and we presented the idea
of creating pillows out of cigarette butts. Distinguished people like Mr.
Aniruddha Shahapure, Ms. Vaishali Patkar, and Mr. Mangesh Kshirsagar made
up the jury.After this class, the students were allowed to take a short break of
15-20 minutes. A workshop on "Entrepreneurship in Waste Management,"
led by Mr. Satya Natarajan, was what I went to after that. This workshop was
one of my personal favorites because Mr. Natarajan made it so engaging and
enjoyable. He discussed subjects such as how our economic and environmental
aspirations may coexist—a person might amass enormous wealth while also
protecting the environment. He used several examples to illustrate this idea,
including Bill Gates, who has 269000 acres of farmland where potatoes and
carrots are grown. Gates is not only a well-known businessman but also
America's largest farmer.

The workshop was followed by a break for lunch. After lunch break, we all met
in the auditorium for the last closing remarks. Before the concluding ceremony
began, the moderators gave an overview of the sessions. Mr. Aditya Pundir, a
Stanford alum, then held an open house. He spoke about his journey towards
sustainability and provided insightful viewpoints. After this awards were given
for both the best presentations and the best written abstracts. about his journey
towards sustainability and provided insightful viewpoints. Before the meeting
came to an end, Mr. Shivam Singh offered a vote of thanks. Everyone who took
part in the planning committee posed for a group photo at the conclusion. I feel
IYSF 2023 was a great success overall, and I want to express my gratitude to
the organizers for planning it and including us in such an insightful and
educational event.
 Chapter – 3

Learning outcome & Webliography

Learning outcomes

● ExploreiT helped me understand the serious problem

we're facing right now and my obligations to the
environment. It expanded my perspective and helped
me develop a stronger sense of empathy for the
natural world.

● I was able to push myself and get out of my comfort zone

because of my volunteer work. It made me discover different
fields and build abilities . My capacity for leadership and
interpersonal communication both increased. It increased my
capacity for quick thinking and instilled in me a sense of
accountability.

● Through this programme, I had a wonderful opportunity to

give back to the community and learn more about it thanks to
my education. Despite the pandemic making it challenging to
do field research we were still able to do so taking necessary
precautions.

● All of the webinars and workshops had presenters from all

around the world who were authorities in their respective
industries, and they were all incredibly educational. As a result,
we might learn in-depth information about the state of the globe
and its ecosystem today. It prompted us to make little,
independent moves that, when coupled with those of many
others, may have the power to save our earth and future.

● Through events like Adopt a Plant Initiative, Green Solutions

Challenge, Litterati, IYSF and Acts of Compassion, this
programme allowed us to make a small difference to our
society, raise awareness among others, and maybe inspire
others as well.

● Since youth are regarded as the world's future, imparting

knowledge on them is crucial for fostering their self-awareness
and inspiring them to take the appropriate actions. Just that was
accomplished via the service learning initiative with ExploreiT
and The Climate Reality Project.

● I am now more cautious of how much plastic I use and make

an effort to limit it. Not just plastic, but also water and other
things have been discouraged from being consumed as much as
possible. The secret to a better future is sustainability, creativity,
and technology.

● Once the pandemic is over, I would cherish the opportunity to

participate in more projects and fieldwork with ExploreiT and
The Climate Reality Project. But most significantly, it taught me
that I am a resident of the planet, that my choices have serious
repercussions, and that it is my responsibility to do everything in
 my ability to repay the loan I have borrowed from nature.

Webliography

https://www.climaterealityproject.org

https://www.exploreit.in