Learning to know the traditional seed varieties is part of knowledge building around food security and sovereignty. CMCJ, Virudunagar jointly with RCPDS and SPEECH as facilitating partners organised as seed festival which was visited by 2000 plus children and adults in and around Virudunagar. The exhibition included models from children led ecological learning centre, economically viable farming system models to motivate farmers to encourage their children to get involved in agriculture, preparation of variety of food stuff as well organic inputs. There were 25 stalls with range of information related to food security and sovereignty. Fellow NGO from Seerkazhai called CIKS came up with almost 40 different varieties of traditional paddy seeds which being used by farmers in their region. Selvakumar shared his expertise with decentralised vermi compost preparation which is linked to backyard garden and micro entrepreneurship of organic vegetable sale by dalit communities in Kamuthi area. A separate corner was established to advocate child rights violations complaint mechanisms as part of child protection. Self help groups came with their traditional eatables and practical recipes which were shared among participants at free of cost. Special stalls by the women self help groups serving minor millet food stuff like keerai vadai, varagu biriyani, keppai payasam and many more. The women also taught children how to prepare these items through simple recipes.
The best part of the seed festival and exhibition was the overwhelming support extended by the Chief Education Officer, Virudunagar District who found high value for such initiative and sent circular to all high and higher secondary school headmasters to send their children to the exhibition as well passed another order asking all schools in the district to make the “pasumai padai” “Green Brigade” team to closely work with CMCJ. This is a great mile stone crossed along the mainstreaming direction. Great event.
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CMCJ Virudhunagar children went to the tribes around the belt of Nilgris to study their lifestyle and the climate changes issues happening there. They conducted PRA with the people of those villages and analysed their problems that are faced by them. They also went to Tea processing factory and known about how tea dust is prepared and how they are classifying them according to their qualities. on that trip, our children have learned many things.
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Children of CMCJ Virudhunagar representing themselves on a Public hearing organised by the Government of India on Climate Crisis issue in New Delhi. CMCJ representative Ms. Panchavarnam listed and explained the issues on climate change that are directly affecting children.
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