Dharti Saathi
With rapid consumerism and environmental degradation, our world is facing a climate crisis and losing its colours. We need to take urgent action. Awareness and action are the pillars of our programs, as awareness leads to action and thus behaviour change.
For creating awareness, we have designed a school-based Environmental Learning Program to REVIVE and RESTORE the lost colours of nature and fight the CLIMATE CRISIS with the support of a cadre of Dharti Saathis who create awareness and expedite action in our partner communities.
Our interactive and experiential school-based program enables children to build a deep connection with nature, and get sensitised toward environmental issues from a waste lens through our modules. The themes of our modules are:
Know your Environment
Impact of Waste on Environment & Health
Relationship with Waste
Know your Waste
We have an action-based component through our My Environment My Responsibility Campaign. This helps children to directly take action in their community.
Through this program, a Dharti Saathi (volunteer), is placed in our partner schools. These volunteers facilitate our module implementation with students and encourage them to solve some local problems. We do this by collaborating with various stakeholders in the local community.
Since 2020, we have partnered with 61 schools across Kolkata and Mumbai, impacting 9600 students. Our program has been implemented in selected classrooms from partner schools and organisations such as NGOs, community schools, low-income private schools and government-aided schools.
As of July 2025, we have also initiated our partnership with Samagra Shiksha Mission, looking forward to collaborating with 13 schools and impacting 4,000 students for FY 2025-26.
61+
SCHOOLS IN COLLABORATION WITH GARBAGE FREE INDIA, DHARTI SAATHI PROGRAM
9600+
STUDENTS BEING DHARTI SAATHIS, SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING 21+ CLASSROOM AND COMMUNITY BASED CAMPAIGNS
1,16,551.95 kgs
Milk bags & Recyclable plastic
37,124.07 kgs
MLP/LVP
7892.46 kgs
E-Waste
88,913 kgs
Other dry waste
If you are a school looking to start your climate action journey, write to us at educate@garbagefreeindia.org and our team will get in touch with you.
Interested in volunteering for the program?
