Save the Galaxy, plant a tree”
Team of 16, number of trees planted 54, total hours spent 2.
“I want to make a difference..” Pratik had said seated on the dining table with that intense look on his face that I’m only too familiar with. I knew his head was swarming with ideas and he wouldn’t rest until one of them materialised.
He was searching for several options when he happened to learn about the tree plantation project that Rotary Club of Panvel Central, of which his parents are members, had recently undertaken in association with CUF (Citizens Unity Forum).
Two days later the seed of ‘difference’ was born and ready to be sown.
With his firm having successfully completed a year in the new office, the team decided to celebrate the achievement by doing something different to make that difference he’d envisioned.
T.E.A.M.
Togetherness:
In an effort to get this project to be enjoyable and enlightening, we sported printed t-shirts with a slogan and the face of an Avenger; Groot – an extraterrestrial tree from the popular series ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’. Couldn’t be more apt, could it? We humans are afterall the entrusted Guardians of this Earth!
Execution:
It was a ten minute walk from the parking spot to the base of the hill where we were handed over our pre-numbered saplings in bags to be carried to the allocated spots. This entails a small trek up the hill with the laborers to guide us to the spot and help with the planting. It was like one of those patriotic/ motivational movie scenes what with encouraging one another with the ‘chale chalo’ and ‘lakshya toh, har haal mein paana hai’ chants to reach the top! Finally at our spots, we set the saplings in it and covered them up with the loose mud scattered around and the final touches were made by those laborers. Mission accomplished.
Awareness:
The view!! It’s just lush green carpets spread over acres of land; the wallpaper kind you find on your laptop screens! Imagine diving into them! I believe it’s extremely important we understand the situation our world is in today. We already know but choose to live in denial/ ignorance because of our attitude ‘mere ek ke karne se kya hoga!?’ We must have faith that the smallest effort in the right direction does help, does make a difference. Each step counts.
Motivation:
What a moment of pride to see your sapling seated and settled! It’s no different from the joy parents experience when they lay the right foundation for their babies hoping they’ll grow into good independent strong individuals. One deed leads to more because you now want the world to know about your accomplishment through selfies or posts on social media. Maybe your first priority is the number of ‘likes’ but if it’s going to get the better out of others then why NOT! Go ahead, spread the word, motivate.
So, all in all, it was a great day for us and Mother Nature.
If you want to receive,
Learn to give.
If you want to be heard,
Learn to listen.
If you want to be seen,
Learn to look.
Cheers
C.A (Chartered Avenger) Sneha
C.A.: Confused Aquarian 