Sub-regional Sustainable Development Strategy (SSDS) - South Asia - A Youth Perspective (Draft completed)

SAYEN is developing the Sub-regional Sustainable Development Strategy for South Asia, a Youth Perspective. The project is conducted in collaboration with UNEP, Asia and the Pacific. The publication proposed to be developed through the project by youth will include some of the case examples on what, according to youth, has been done for Sustainable Development in South Asia and youth thoughts on how Sustainable Development could be achieved.

Youth for Clean Air(YCA)

CEE, SAYEN with support from UNEP are working on a project, “Youth for Clean Air (YCA)”, conducted as a part of the implementation of the Male` Declaration on Control and Prevention of Air Pollution and its Likely Transboundary Effects for South Asia. The project includes two components- a publication on Male` Declaration (youth version) and an Interactive CD for youth in South Asia.

South Asian Region Initiative (SARI)/ Energy (completed)  

SAYEN conducted a project on involving Youth in Water Conservation for Energy Conservation. The project was supported by USAID and managed by Winrock International and Winrock International India.

As part of the project, SAYEN NFPs Centre for Environment Education, India and Sri Lanka Environment Exploration Society, Sri Lanka involved youth in documenting best practices related to water conservation in the respective countries.

Prakriti: Environment Education Bus (on-going)                

CEE with BG (British Gas) India and Gujarat Gas Company Limited (GGCL) has developed Prakriti: Environment Education Bus, to be used by youth volunteers in three districts of Gujarat as a resource centre to create environmental awareness among school children, other youth and adults.

Learnings from Tsunami (on-going)

The project, “Learnings from Tsunami” is an attempt to understand and analyze efforts undertaken by several stakeholders including governments, international aid agencies, donor agencies, individuals and communities in response to tsunami, a disaster, which affected eight countries, thousands of people and animals, destroying entire villages, and wreaking havoc in an already depleting and degrading environment. A disaster that made past natural disasters seems almost pale in comparison.

Youth and WASH

Involving Youth in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene  

CEE with support from UNICEF and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India organised a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene ( WASH ) campaign involving youth in five states—Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Maharastra and Chattisgarh. As part of the programme, in each state, fifteen camps were conducted by the National Service Scheme (NSS) students and Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) volunteers, one each in a Gram Panchayat.  

Objectives

The Involvement of NSS – NYK in the Total Sanitation Campaign with the objectives to:

Project Approach

The project approach is based on the notion that in a society youth are the change agents. In India , two important schemes undertaken by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India include-- The National Service Scheme, launched in 1969; Nehru Yuva Kendra as a scheme was launched in 1972. These schemes aim to involve youth from colleges and rural areas in development activities. About 30 lakh youth in India are associated with the schemes. Youth associated with NSS and NYK in the above mentioned five states were involved to creatively undertake activities related to WASH in the selected Gram Panchayats and support the TSC. Towards this, approach identified was as follows:

Key Outcomes