2025-09-16

Sacred Heart High School, Pangada, successfully conducted the orientation session of the Wings of Awareness program, an inspiring birdwatching initiative implemented by the Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences (TIES), conceived and supported by Buimerc India Foundation. Designed for schools across the Kottayam district, the program aims to provide students with experiential learning through the captivating world of birds, while enhancing their concentration, nurturing a deep bond with nature, and cultivating environmentally conscious values. The project will be implemented across 20 schools in Kottayam District, engaging around 1,000 students and 60 teachers.

The Mrs. Rani John, faculty welcomed the gathering, and conveyed her best wishes for the successful implementation of the Wings of Awareness program at the school.

Dr. Punnen Kurian, Director of TIES, delivered the introductory remarks, followed by the inaugural address by Mr. Rejimon V.M., Headmaster of Sacred Heart High School. He underscored the importance of this opportunity for students and highlighted the long-term impact such experiential programs can have on their development.

Dr. Punnen Kurian introduced the Wings of Awareness program, explaining its objectives and scope. This was followed by a survey session involving selected students and teachers to gather baseline data for the program.

The highlight of the session was an engaging one-hour class on ornithology, bird identification, and avian diversity, led by Mr. Sarath Babu, Nature Education Officer, TIES. Students actively participated and showed great enthusiasm in learning about the natural world. They were also provided with essential birdwatching tools, including a field guide and a naturalist’s diary, and were trained on their effective usage by Dr. Punnen Kurian.

In the concluding segment, Project Officer Ms. Suhaana introduced the CROW app, a digital platform developed specifically for the project. This app will serve as a medium for students to record and upload their bird observation data, thereby encouraging regular participation and engagement.

The programme was coordinated by Merlin Rajan, Rani John from SH High School and Limna Alena Baby, an intern at TIES.