Composting : Composting is, in broadest terms, the biological reduction of organic wastes to humus. Whenever a plant or animal dies, its remains are attacked by soil micro-organisms and are reduced to an earth-like substance that is beneficial for the growth of plant roots. This process is repeated universally and continuously in every part of the world, and is a part of the wheel of life. Two methods of Composting which will be undertaken at the school level are Vermicomposting and Natural Composting.

Vermi Composting is the process through which we can convert bio-degradable waste into rich humus by using earthworms. After a worm ingests organic matter, the matter undergoes change that is nothing short of a miracle. Inside the worms, the ingested matter undergoes chemical changes and what comes out is a rich plant food. Schools which have their own canteens are suitable to adopt this project. The project not only solves the problem of solid waste to the extent of giving rich compost in return, it also helps students realize the importance of small creatures like earthworms and helps them shed their fear.

In Natural Composting, instead of using earthworms as decomposers, the waste decomposes with the aid of other factors such as insects, worms and tiny microbes. This is possible in each and every school, irrespective of the amount of waste they generate. Schools that do not have their own canteens and consequently have little bio-degradable waste can also adopt this project. They can decompose all their garden waste easily by alternatively layering a pit with the waste and soil. This form of composting is recommended particularly for those schools which have a lot of garden waste 

like dried leaves, which can be saved from burning.

The compost thus generated can be used in the school lawns and gardens as a substitute for manure and thus the cost of fertilizers can be saved. It can be sold to students, their parents, neighbourhoods and the funds can be used for nature club activities.

Tree Planting Campaigns: Trees play a vital role in sustaining the natural environment. Trees, apart from their aesthetic appeal, absorb air pollution and noise and trap dust. They also keep cities cool, improve soil conditions, raise the water table and give shelter to birds and insects. Schools in particular, have both a need and scope for planting trees. Our motto is : Wherever there is an open area, lets make it green. "The attempt under this project is to create a mini-arboretum of sorts. This means planting and nurturing a variety of trees which will help in their scientific study and display apart from conserving them. This arboretum could comprise medicinal trees, flowering trees, native trees, etc.

Other activities which help the students know more about the trees they have planted and their various aspects will also be undertaken. Once the school campus is covered, the area outside the school like neighbouring parks, roadsides, etc. will be taken up for tree planting.

Paper Recycling Project : This project enables schools to convert waste paper and cotton rags into useful and valuable products like their own stationery, certificates, invitation cards, gifts and exciting paper products like lamp shades, bins, pencil holders and anything that the imagination can create. This is a non-polluting method and saves our precious forests from being chopped down. It is a perfect project to show that a school promotes paper recycling and thus supports sustainable development. Schools will be installing a mini paper recycling plant, specially designed by Development Alternatives for schools in their premises, and appropriate training will be given to teachers and students on operating the plant.

Gardening of Medicinal Plants : India has over a 3,000 year old medical heritage whose main resource base is medicinal plants. Medicinal plants constitute a very important "national resource" of India, and we have perhaps one of the richest botanical traditions in the world. Due to little awareness of this old science, most urban people turn to other forms of modern treatment, which not only cost money but also have many side effects. The aim of this project is to familiarize the students with common herbal plants and their uses. Here, the students would grow certain medicinal plants or trees in their campus. The DEAN professionals would also visit the school and create awareness about the importance of medicinal plants and the uses of each plant to be grown in the school. The plants with a brief write-up on their properties and uses can be sold to parents during the Parent Teachers meeting or during the School Carnival or Annual day, so that they can be grown at their homes too. This will create awareness about our rich heritage and make people save on medical costs. The plants can also be given to people living in the slums, who could be educated in terms of their uses.

Environment Audit : With our convenient and comfortable life styles, all of us are harming the environment, without even realizing it. We are having the best comforts without taking care of the environment. This project helps the students assess the harm each one of us is (directly or indirectly) causing to the environment by our consumeristic lifestyle.

Through specially designed work sheets, an audit is conducted at two levels : at home and at the individual level. At the household level, students find out the quantum of electricity/water/petrol/poly bags, etc. used per week, and are encouraged to decrease this amount with some easy to follow tips. At the Individual level, students check some of their own habits that harm the environment e.g. wasting food, listening to loud music, throwing litter on roads, etc. Once the young minds realize the impact of their daily actions on the environment, they will hopefully try and change their habits (like switching off lights, not wasting food, paper or water, etc). This is one step towards becoming better citizens.

Adopt a Slum : Slums are a common feature of most urban cities in the country. They give shelter to people with poor economic conditions. They are

characterized by the lack of education, high density of population, unhygienic environment and sanitation, poor health and other problems. In Delhi, one can see slums in almost all colonies, with people living in unhealthy conditions.

The aim of this project is to involve schools in the betterment of urban slums ensuring sanitation, health care, better environment and integrated development. It also aims to create awareness regarding the status and problems of the urban slums among students. To begin with, students can regularly monitor the water quality and suggest remedial actions if required. The students can start various activities in the slums like literacy campaigns, sourcing them with old books, clothes, stationery, educating about medicinal plants, etc. Projects which have been implemented in their own schools like composting, paper recycling, etc. can also be initiated in the slums, as these would not only improve the environment but also the income. Other activities like the cleaning-up drives, getting eco-lavatories constructed, planting fruit bearing trees, etc. may be taken up gradually and as per the need.

Re-Use Society : What is waste for you, is wealth for somebody else. There has been a tradition in India of finding an innovative use for everything :- tyres, battery cases, plastic bins and what not. A similar thing can be started in schools which saves both the environment and money in the bargain.

Apart from making innovative artifacts from discarded things in the Crafts period, two major activities are suggested to the school. The first activity is to exchange 

books and even notes on each academic session. Students of a senior class can give the books to the students of a junior class and in turn receive books from the senior section, and a chain is established throughout the school. This way a lot of paper and, in turn, trees can be saved. The next major activity can be to donate books and outgrown clothes. The books / story books /comics that have been read and re-read, the clothes and shoes that have outgrown, can be collected in schools and given to the less fortunate children of the society. Collection made thus can be donated to Child Welfare organizations, slums, orphanages etc.

For implementing each of the above mentioned projects, CLEAN will provide equipment, technical expertise, support at each crucial stage, manuals and other information to the schools. Experts will assist the schools in understanding and implementing the above mentioned projects. q