Collaborating with the change-makers of tomorrow

India generates approximately 60 million tonnes of waste every year. However, less than half of it is treated appropriately. Do you know that proper waste-segregation exercise could help us achieve a sustainable waste value chain and reduce the overall waste generated? A big part of this exercise is the inclusion of citizens and other critical stakeholders across the waste management process in the conversation and sensitising them towards waste segregation and disposal practices, thereby creating a long-term behaviour change in society.

Developing an easy to understand and engaging digital curriculum for school children

In 2019, we partnered with the School Education Department, Government of Maharashtra, and Xynteo Vikaasa to launch an interactive and self-learning digital curriculum called 'Waste No More curriculum'. The curriculum is a research-backed behavioural change programme that focuses on changing how our future generation looks at waste disposal. It covers a range of topics from Waste segregation, Marine life, Recycling and Composting and encourages children to become advocates of appropriate waste disposal practices through a series of activities and games.

Successful pilots across Maharashtra

The pilots were conducted in Kolhapur, Nashik, and D-Ward (Mumbai), which reached 80,498 students and 1426 teachers across more than 1600 schools. The curriculum is also available across all state-aided schools in Maharashtra via the DIKSHA App, WhatsApp links, YouTube videos, and in-class activities.

During the lockdown periods, we widened the range of the curriculum through partnerships with DD Sahyadri, DD Podhigai, DD Malayalam, and DD Bihar. Cumulatively, these four platforms generated more than 14 lakh views.

Increase in knowledge levels and intention to act

Post impact surveys and group discussions, we found that the programme effectively improved knowledge levels and drove behavioural change through a change in intentions to act and practice the principles of appropriate waste management amongst children, parents, and teachers.