HSBC Gold Award Participants share their Residential Project at Kemri experience.

The Kemri Conservation Project, sponsored by HSBC India engaged 20 IAYP Gold Award participants successfully in a residential setting. The group travelled to the project site near Udaipur, Rajasthan in 2 batches. Designed with two key prioririties of ecological restoration/conservation and community outreach, the project allowed the participants to work on teamwork and get a sense of leadership in the fight against climate change.

The Kemri project is a unique initiative that seeks to restore greenery in the country by allowing participants to learn first hand the importance and benefits of conservation, allow them to share their insights with young people in rural India; and most importantly, help build bridges of understanding between rural and urban dwellers.

Aloysius Chrispin Franklin, one of the participants shares his experience :

“I always wanted to be a part of an organization that looks notonly for its own benefit but also for its community and ourplanet. I am really proud to say that HSBC follows it and encourages its employees to implement simple but effective steps to make the world a better place to live. Doing the Award is a great opportunity as it not only enables you to set simple and realistic goals but actually drives you towards it, whether it is personal goals or an aim to reach out to the community in providing service.”

The Kemri Conservation Project allowed me to meet some of my peers from different HSBC locations in India. From being total strangers, we became good friends as if we had known each other for ages. The entire project was an amazing and experience. Everyday we had something different to work with- clearing the forest area from weeds and invasive plants, painting metal tree guards, digging trenches to set pipe-lines; planting saplings and even tagging them with our names. The work was enjoyable; we got a chance to interact with the local people and the few schools about eco-conservation. At the end of the day we all got this intense feeling of satisfaction that we did something really good!

Our daily walks into the forest to sight various species of flora and fauna, the presentations and explanations given by our project leader at Kemri conservation gave me an entirely new perspective on climate change and the effect it can have. Even though we were a small team to work with, I am sure each one of us volunteers grabbed enough information and sustainable methods that will seed out to our friends and their friends in a matter of time.

Srikanth Ganti, summarising his experience :

“The Award has provided us a wonderful opportunity to feel the urge and work for the community. I am very satisfied and happy after spending quality time exploring the beauty of the nature and take part in conserving it. The long treks across the terrain envisage more on the need to conserve nature and preserve the ecological balance. Watching birds and understanding them creates a strong sense of responsibility to protect the nature.”

After the Kemri experience, I have been doing my own bit for the environment. Thanks to Mayur and team for this interesting, inspiring, insightful and illuminating journey of my life. I also urge people to be more enthusiastic and opt for IAYP and experience the exhilarating, enervating and extravagant journey at KEMRI and enlighten self that merely “feeling” the brand is totally different from “being” the brand.”