SUSതീരം
TOWARDS CLEANER SHORES
The forefront recipients of adverse weather events associated with climate change are the communities living on and near the coastal shores. The existing developmental challenges again accentuates the vulnerability of these communities.
Project Susതീരം (Sustheeram- sustainable shores) is aimed at spreading awareness on coastal vulnerability due to natural and anthropogenic activities. Our pilot engagement envisions Vettukad, a coastal ward at Trivandrum to develop into a sustainable eco tourism destination. Vettukad is home to a significant number of fisherfolk. Apart from that Vettukad is also a prime faith destination at Trivandrum witnessing more than 70,000 visitors every year.
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The conversations we had with various stakeholders in the Vettukad community led to identifying the major issues the community faced. Our action plan was laid in a manner that involved continuous and maximum community participation.
Our Engagements
WEEKLY BEACH CLENUPS
The project Susതീരം started with weekly beach clean-ups, awareness drives, and social media outreach. From a seven-week of regular beach clean-up, volunteers of the Sustera Foundation collected 1,050 kg of plastic waste from the Vettucadu beach. More than 500+ volunteers were engaged. The collected plastic wastes were handed over to the green Kerala company for recycling.
SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT AWARNESS DRIVE DURING VETTUCADU THIRUNAL - 2021
In the month of November we engaged with the Vettucaud church team as the agency for facilitating better sustainable waste management during their annual festival - Feast of Christ the king. Sustera foundation conducted an awareness drive and sustainable waste management program at Vettucaud, Trivandrum during the 10 day long festival- "Feast of Christ the King" Thirunal from 12 November 2021 to 21 November 2021.
FOCUS GROUP DISSCUSSIONS AND SURVEY
We engaged with the neighborhood community, youth fraternity, and other stakeholders in an effective manner through surveys and focus group discussions to understands their needs better as well as facilitating the better implementation of our interventions. We also conducted awareness drives on climate action and sustainable living and exhibited sustainable alternatives in daily living.
INFORMATION, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION
Information Education Communication (IEC) aimed at educating the public/community about climate change, need for climate action and also behavioural change related to proper waste management (which was the major issues conveyed to us by the community). The information was communicated in both English and local language.
RAPID RESTORE
Awareness and outreach can be done in many ways - sustained engagements,social media outreach, sudden experiential learning etc. #RapidRestore was our attempt to provoke thought and action amongst the audience in the immediate surroundings by cleaning a small stretch of area together with conversing on why we are doing this.
Experienced voices
During our campaign, resource persons from a wide spectrum of focus areas led interactive sessions for the team and the volunteers. These conversations motivated the group to think, explore and take responsibility for the impact of their actions in their immediate environment.
Vettucadu Thirunal Impact Highligh
700+
Volunteers engaged
More than 700+ volunteers from different collages engaged
7000+
People Addressed
Sustera Foundation addressed more than 7000 people during the thirunal on sustainable waste management practice and coastal vulnerability.
12+
Organizational collaborations
Sustera Foundation collaborated with more than 12 civil society organizations
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