Sesame Workshop India’s ‘Mera Planet, Mera Ghar’ launched in 2020 is designed with and for children between 5-12 years of age and brings in their voices for the first time to the discourse on environmental issues. Leveraging popular media platforms and characters and proven pedagogical approaches, the project is supporting children in talking about their environmental concerns and proposing solutions through hyper-local campaigns that are replicable. The program approach allows children to determine their environmental priorities for a highly localized educational program and climate action campaign. The curriculum, campaign approach and design are highly replicable and scalable and can be applied in any geography/location to bring children’s voices to the fore and have potential in educating and elevating the voices of the children who have the most to gain from meaningful global commitments to end environmental degradation.

·   Objective 1: Provide kids tools to raise their voices, by building on their knowledge and appreciation for environment

·   Objective 2: Provide a platform for adults to listen, by facilitating a direct channel between children and decision-makers

Phase 1: SWI developed and tested a replicable and scalable model to build children as environment stewards. A large-scale survey provided a platform for voices of 9,500 children (in the age group of 6-10 years) to be recorded on environment issues that concern them and which are typically ignored by adults and decision makers. The children were provided a platform to voice their environmental concerns to the local stakeholders (MLA and Municipal Councillor) through one-to-one interaction.  Hyper local campaigns were conducted through community workshops with children to build their awareness on air pollution and understand how its decreasing quality affects all life forms and amplified on social media ti build citizen awareness. 

Phase 2: Scale-up of the project through institutionalising the program in 34 schools and engaging more than 4000 children through a STEM curriculum in experiential learning in classrooms and through school eco-club activities. Strategic partnerships were forged with key government ministries and departments and donors to strengthen project messaging and sustainability which was amplified through a social media campaign to build citizen action.  

 Achievements

1. The school engagement has been able to build awareness and understanding of 4000 children on air and its properties, promote safe and sustainable waste management practices and use of plastics and understand the consequence of their actions on the future environment and their role in keeping the environment clean and healthy

The STEM based approach and experiential learning has been appreciated by school authorities, teacher and students and the Municipal Corporations Education Department has indicated interest to scale-up the project to the network of more than 1700 schools in the city.

2. Rejuvenate school ECO clubs: Every school is mandated to have a vibrant eco-club to promote environment education among children through play-based learning. The project activities were helpful for teachers to rejuvenate the clubs as it allowed for seamless integration with the club mandates.

3.  SWI @ G-20: SWI was invited by the Ministry of Education, Government of India to showcase and demonstrate the MPMG curriculum and learning kit at the 4^th G-20 Education Working Group Meeting in Pune from 17-22 June, 2023 which saw over 200K footfalls. The curriculum and activities resonated with teachers and students and had very high participation and engagement. Subsequently, SWI was invited to submit a proposal to the Ministry for scaling up the project to schools at a national level.

The 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' project by Sesame Workshop India (SWI) boasts several special features that set it apart as an innovative and impactful initiative:

1.  Child-Centric Approach: The project is uniquely designed with and for children aged 5 to 12. It places children at the forefront, enabling them to actively participate in discussions about environmental issues and solutions.
2. First-of-Its-Kind Voice: 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' pioneers the inclusion of children's voices in environmental discourse. It empowers children to voice their concerns, bringing a fresh perspective and promoting intergenerational understanding.
3. Media and Characters: Leveraging SWI's expertise in media and character-based education, the project incorporates popular media platforms and recognizable characters to engage children effectively.
4. Replicable and Scalable: The project's hyper-local campaign approach is both replicable and scalable, making it adaptable to various communities and geographies, amplifying its potential impact.
5. Direct Engagement: 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' facilitates direct engagement between children and decision-makers, offering a platform for children to express their environmental concerns and encouraging adults to listen and act.
6. Holistic Curriculum: The STEM curriculum, aligned with the Ministry of Education's 'Eco-Club' framework, fosters experiential learning. It covers a wide array of activities, from waste management games to hands-on science experiments, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of environmental issues.
7. STEM Learning: The learning kit's board games, storybooks, and science experiments employ a STEM learning approach, making environmental education engaging and enjoyable for children.
8. Community Involvement: Through community workshops, the project educates children about local environmental challenges, such as air pollution, and encourages them to raise awareness within their communities.
9. Social Media Amplification: The project employs social media platforms for both child and adult engagement. It reaches a wider audience, drives citizen action, and spreads the message of environmental stewardship.
10. Recognized Impact: The project's success has led to recognition on global platforms, such as the G-20 Education Working Group Meeting, showcasing its effectiveness and potential for broader implementation.
11. Transformative Potential: 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' goes beyond education, aiming to transform children into active environmental stewards, cultivating values that contribute to a more sustainable future.

These special features collectively make 'Mera Planet, Mera Ghar' a pioneering initiative that empowers children to play a central role in shaping their environment, fostering awareness, action, and positive change.