International Climate Champions Camp, Mukteshwar, Uttarkhand, May 2009

The 55 of us finally made it to the TERI solar camp at Mukteshwar on the h evening of 27t May. It was an interesting 10-hour journey from Delhi, then the mountains and finally the camp site. We had arrived from different parts of India in New Delhi the previous day for an evening of orientation.

The Climate Champions are young people nominated by the British Council India and TERI, on the basis of their project proposals. Our projects are our own insights into how we could be a part of the solution building process towards a green future and our fight against climate change.

The camp was organised with the following objectives –

- making friends across the nation
- learning about each other’s climate change projects
- broadening our understanding on climate change related issues
- training participants in project management skills
- identifying future support strategies for the concerned youth

Our camp was a four day extensive workshop with various activities and discussions. These included –

- Presentations on Environment education and awareness
- Project discussion amongst fellow participants and project mapping
- A whole lot on expressing of our views creatively through the internet, over a web blogging session
- Our presentations on our projects with fellow Champions
- Learning appropriate feedback techniques

Our workshop co-ordinators and trainers had flown to India all the way from UK. They were Ms Sara Jenkins and Dr Laura Grant. Besides, senior officials from the British Council and TERI were present in full force to guide us.

The most interesting part of the camp was that it was run by solar power in all aspects -the bath in the early morning, the light in our tents, the charge at the mezzanine and even the heating at the mercy of the night.

In India, it is generally very hot throughout the year, about +30 degrees centigrade, thus a mere temperature of 10 degrees centigrade was a sheer treat!

Link to British Council Climate Champions programme…
http://www.britishcouncil.org/india-projects-lcf-climatechampions.htm