Vatican: The staff and students of the schools of Miao Diocese in north-east India kicked off their new academic year on Monday, marking World Environment Day.
Schools under the Newman Educational Society (NES), the educational wing of Diocese of Miao in east Arunachal Pradesh state, made the most of the first day of the new academic year, June 5th, planting saplings around school campuses to mark this year World Environment Day.
Staff and students of the 45 schools of the Newman Educational Society spread across 8 districts of east Arunachal Pradesh planted saplings around their school campus to remind themselves of the urgent need to fight global warming and climate change and of the duty to leave a safe world to the coming generations.
“These trees will not only help improve the environment but also make you feel proud of visiting your school in future and it will make you feel nostalgic,” said Fr. Felix Anthony, the Principal of Newman School, Neotan.
He noted that children were happy to have spent the first day of the new academic year for the promotion of environment. “Our school organizes a wide variety of events to get us involved in social causes,” said Kanseng Ronrang, a tenth grader, Vatican Radio reported.
“Besides formal education in the classrooms, celebrating environment day is another example of the hands-on projects our schools organize throughout the year,” Ronrang added. “One hopes that initiatives such as this by children help improve and protect the environment,” Fr. Felix said.