Aliza Ratnani: tackling environmental sustainability
Aliza Ratnani, a Diploma Programme 2 student at the Aga Khan Academy Hyderabad, joined the Green Club as part of the Experiential Learning programme, but what started out as mere interest soon became a passion. “I joined the Green Club to spark positive change and promote a culture of sustainability at the Academy,” says Aliza.
“I have long known that many students are enthusiastic to bring about change but they perhaps do not know how and where to receive guidance in order to execute their ideas. Leading the Green Club was the perfect opportunity for me to help facilitate this.”
“The Academy has always focused on helping students in every way possible, and one of the ways is to empower and educate us to decrease the use of resources. Our teachers incorporate these values right from Grade 1. The Aga Khan Academies (AKA) Learner Profile also encourage us to take significant steps towards the betterment of society. Looking back, the AKA Learner Profile have helped shape my outlook on major issues of society – including sustainability – and that's the reason why many of my past projects have been related to sustainability. My personal project, for example, was all about eco-friendly fashion.”
So what is the Green Club all about?
“We are a group of students dedicated to recycling and sustainability,” explains Aliza. “The club is all about saving resources and finding new possible solutions to reduce the carbon footprint of our school. For 'green' habits to take root, it is important that students understand the repercussions of waste, such as the effects on our planet’s ecosystems, climate change, and the health and wellness of communities near and far. Hence we organise events to not only educate students but also advocate for green initiatives.”
“We have introduced the recycling of waste on campus by collaborating with the Recykal Foundation. Currently, we are collecting plastic and paper waste, and have dedicated bins which will help us recycle responsibly. We also organised a campus-wide clean-up drive and will be organising climate marches to increase awareness about climate change.”
“I go by the motto: ‘go green, so there is a tomorrow.’ Living sustainably is vital to ensure that future generations can thrive on this planet. I would advise everyone to think and reflect on their actions and the impact they have on the world around them.”
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