Vidya S, Climate Change
Development of Climate Curriculum and its implementation, which began as a small seed in 2022, through three years of piloting, field learning, consultations, and countless revisions, has evolved into a scalable work. On 13th August 2026, at CSI Gell Memorial Girls Higher Secondary School in Ooty, that journey took root with the launch of The Nilgiris Uyirsholai, a place-based climate curriculum module and Portal by the District Collectorate.
The module comprises five interactive classroom sessions built around activity-based lesson plans, discussions, observations, and hands-on exercises, helping students grasp climate change through the local ecology of the Nilgiris. (link:https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JY4Vi9jq1b-EqQL8W8bW5s9-5TB7itti/view) . Furthermore, this learning is extended online through the Nilgiris Uyirsholai Portal, which offers local environmental content, resources, interactive activities, and assessment tools, including pre- and post-program tracking for students and teachers. (link: https://Uyirsholai.in)
In 2025, we scaled up the Climate Smart Schools project from 10 to 51 schools. This expansion followed the District Collector’s keen interest and support. The project covered 10 schools in Kotagiri, 10 in Coonoor, 11 in Ooty, and 20 in Gudalur. It reached almost 2,250 students across the Nilgiris. Working closely with the District Collectorate and Education Department helped us rethink and redesign parts of the curriculum. This process shaped a more concrete, place-based learning module reflecting the realities of the Nilgiris.
The Launch:
The launch was by Tmt. Asha Ajith, Director of Tamil Nadu Climate Change Mission, in the presence of the District Collector of Nilgiris, Tmt. Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru, along with Selvi Abhilasha Kour, Additional Collector (Development), Nilgiris; Mr. Kashyap Shashank Ravi, District Forest Officer; and Mr. Thirunavukarasu, Chief Education Officer. From Keystone, Reshma R, Technical Coordinator; interns Ruchika Sharma and Rohit Kumar; Tmt. Jyostna Krishnakumar, Director of Climate Change and Community Well-Being, and Tmt.Sarasasmeeta, Senior Program Coordinator, who stood alongside me and Bhavya George, Program Coordinator (Climate Change). But it was our Climate Educators: Ponnamma K, Bharathi V, Shailaja C, Manimegalai M, Gretta T, Sakthi P and Prema K who were our pillars through the entire journey.
.Photo credit:Pramoth N, Education PC
Photo credit: Reshma R
Representatives from several NGOs also joined us, including Nico Eco, Hinduja Foundation, Astitva, Clean Coonoor, Aarambam, You Can Edu, and ITC. Schools across the district also sent representatives to participate in this milestone. These included Lawrence, Good Shepherd, Blue Mountain, Stanes, Hebron, Judes, Laidlaw, St. Joseph’s Coonoor, and Brindavan. Government schools included PUMS Backianagar, PUMS Kenthorai, PUMS B. Manihatty, PUMS Melkowahatty, and GHS Kenthorai. Students and teachers from our host school, CSI Gell Memorial Girls Higher Secondary School, joined wholeheartedly.
The Collector shared her vision for students to understand the Nilgiris’ natural ecosystems and biodiversity. She wants students to become more aware of nature and choose sustainable ways of living. Director Asha appreciated the Keystone team’s work and thanked the Collector for supporting the initiative. She said the concept could be replicated easily in other places and hoped to expand it across the state. Bhavya thanked the Collector and her team for their support in scaling up the project. She acknowledged their efforts in coordinating and arranging the field visits. She also thanked the climate educators for their valuable contribution to the initiative.
Youth Voices and a Meaningful Homecoming:
The event also saw several students step forward to share their experiences. A student from B. Manihatty spoke about avoiding plastic, protecting trees, and planting new ones in their place. His message reflected how deeply the programme’s message had resonated with its young participants. The day concluded with the launch of the book alongside the portal. It marked a fitting culmination to the day, filled with encouragement and shared purpose.
For me, the launch took place in the school I once studied in, and walking through again brought back memories. My teachers recognized me instantly and told me how proud they were. That recognition, that warmth it made the moment deeply personal. I felt happy, emotional, and grateful, once standing in the place where my own journey began, now watching a new one unfold for students across the Nilgiris.
