Empowering the Next Generation for a Sustainable Future
At Cisco, we firmly believe in the power of technology to drive a sustainable future for all. On April 20th, 2023, we celebrated World Earth Day with a series of initiatives aimed at educating and inspiring Class 9th to 12th students of a Government School in Delhi to take concrete steps towards conserving the Earth.
Our objective was to raise awareness about sustainability and encourage students to adopt sustainable practices as a way of life. As a global technology leader, Cisco is committed to reducing our environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices in all our operations.
The event began with an interactive session on the importance of sustainability, and our group of volunteers raised awareness among the students on how small changes in daily habits and adopting a healthy lifestyle can make a significant difference to the Earth. They also highlighted the current alarming situation on the Earth with unpredictable and extreme weather conditions.
As part of our sustained CSR initiatives, the Cisco Marketing team organized several activities throughout the year. For example, they planted over 200 saplings to create a greener planet and made shopping bags using discarded newspapers and T-shirts. The team also engaged in beach cleaning activities in Mumbai and decomposing activities conducted by our Bengaluru team.
Our volunteers collaborated with the school teachers to conduct a sustainability quiz that tested the students’ knowledge about environmental issues and sustainability, covering topics such as climate change, energy conservation, and waste management.
The recycling workshop was another engaging activity that taught the students about the importance of recycling and how to do it correctly. They were shown how to sort different types of waste and given practical tips on how to reduce their waste footprint. They also learned about the recycling process and how it can help conserve resources and reduce pollution. They talked about simple things they could do at home and in their communities to reduce their impact on the environment.
The event resulted in many ideas such as using reusable bags and water bottles, conserving energy and water, and planting more trees. The students also learned about repairing electronic appliances at home rather than discarding them to conserve energy.
A major highlight of the day was a collage-making activity, where a group of Cisco volunteers used their creativity to paint the school wall with vibrant and colourful conceptual paintings, highlighting the importance of conserving the Earth. Another highlight of the event was an insightful session by eminent environmentalist Peepal Baba or Swami Prem Parivartan, who along with his team, has planted over 20 million trees in 202 districts across 18 states in India. He spoke about the importance of afforestation and protecting Mother Earth.
The students pledged to remind themselves that every day is Earth Day and that they would follow healthy and sustainable habits to take care of the Earth.
Goals:
• Raise awareness among students about the importance of protecting the Earth
• Educate them about the various environmental issues facing the world and ways in which they can help mitigate them
• Encourage students to take action towards creating a greener, sustainable future
• Foster a sense of responsibility among students towards the environment by showing them the impact of their actions on the environment and encouraging them to make sustainable choices.
Impact:
• The event was a great success, and the students left with a better understanding of sustainability and the role they can play in creating a more sustainable future.
• The event showed how by educating and inspiring the next generation, we can work towards a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world.
• The event helped us shape young minds and prepare them as strong warriors against environmental challenges.
Watch Cisco APJC teams celebrate Earth Month through #Time2Give
