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Green Channel is a youth led, action oriented, not-for-profit organization, founded in 2010 that seeks to promote elements of a Green Economy in Bangladesh and to encourage the community around us in making environmentally and socially responsible choices in everyday life.
Starting off as a simple environmental project in 2010, GC today is an organization (inspired by the ideals of United World College) with a special focus on reducing energy poverty (in Bangladesh) - the missing millenium goal.
Green Channel's upcoming project for 2012 is "Project Solar Bottles: Bringing Light to our Rural Homes" This project aims to combat energy poverty in Bangladesh. Being successful with our pilot project "EnviVolunteerism" last July (2011) in building "awareness through action", now we are focussed on bringing cost effective and sustainable form of solar power in the rural homes of Bangladesh to lighten up the lives of people who still live in darkness today.
Green Channel's Pilot Project (July 2011):Green Channel launched its pilot project "EnviVolunteersim: Building Awareness through Action" in July 2011 that aimed to create a network of “EnviVolunteers” in Bangladesh through annual programs. The idea is to bring young people from different backgrounds together, provide them with the knowledge and the means to work for environmental issues. Green Channel partnered with UWC Alumni, UNYSAB, BYEI, ACTIVISTA and One Degree Initiative undertook this initiative.
The Project operated in 3 stages:
1. EnviLearning
2. EnviVolunteering
3. EnviOutcomes
The purpose of Stage 1 EnviLearning was a two day series of workshops that was held from 4th-5th in STM Hall, Scholastica Senior Section Uttara. The purpose of EnviLearning in this project was to give our participants the opportunity to get together with creative young minds and learn more about the environment. The day long workshop included inspirational speeches by experienced volunteers and persons: Mr. Musa Ibrahim, the first Bangladeshi to climb Mount Everest; Mr. Korvi Rakshand, the founder of JAAGO and Ms. Nabila Idris, the founder of Community Action on Day 1; Ms. Hiya Islam, Executive Committee member of One Degree Initiative and Mr. Nafiz Imtiaz, the president of UNYSAB on Day 2. The talks were followed by a presentation on renewable energy and its scope of implementation in Bangladesh; a paper recycling workshop where Green Channel participants learnt to make recycled papers and made over 150 sheets in two days; and a food composting workshop where they learnt an easy way to make compost out of organic waste.
The purpose of stage 2 EnviVolunteering was to expose the volunteers to field work and raise awareness through action. Participants over the 2 days (8th and 9th) in two shifts, cleaned portions of Banani Lake, Dhaka. This stage aims to raise awareness among students through action. Over 350 students participated in this stage and collected 600 sacks of trash that was collected and dump properly by DCC (Dhaka City Corporation) after the clean up.
The purpose of Stage 3 EnviOutcomes (a mentorship program) was to give our participants the opportunity to combine knowledge and experience from Stage 1 and 2 and implement it in Stage 3. Participants were encouraged to come up with creative ideas to help the environment and submit a project proposal to Green Channel. Upon submission 1 project has been selected for this year's program. The selected project is on Waste Management. It will be taking place in September 2011. They are being mentored by Green Channel and will be awarded BDT 50 000 to make their project successful and make a difference for our beautiful Bangladesh.
In addition Green Channel also published two petitions, as a call for authorities to take action for building a better waste management system and preventing water pollution in Bangladesh. To sign the petitions, please visit:
Stop Water Pollution: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-water-pollution-now.html
We Demand a Better Waste management System in Bangladesh: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/we-want-a-better-waste-management-s… Channel's year round project:Setting Up Paper Recycling Plants in Bangladeshi Schools, following the model of MUWCI (UWC in India).
Green Channel believes - change is possible, more when the youth are united. We "believe" first, before we take action. We hope you will join us and keep supporting our initiatives to preserve our beautiful environment.