KT For Good: Meet the 'green mums' of young eco-warriors

Top Stories

KT For Good: Meet the green mums of young eco-warriors

In the fourth part of our series, we're featuring mothers who live plastic-free to inspire their kids to become the 'green change-makers' the world needs.

By Saman Haziq

  • Follow us on
  • google-news
  • whatsapp
  • telegram

Published: Tue 19 Mar 2019, 11:00 PM

Last updated: Wed 20 Mar 2019, 8:26 PM

The ugly truth about plastics is everywhere. Khaleej Times' latest ?'KT For Good' campaign explores why we need to heed what eco-warriors have been telling us all along: Say no to plastic. In the fourth part of our series, we're featuring mothers who live plastic-free to inspire their kids to become the 'green change-makers' the world needs

Children, with their fresh and impressionable minds, take after their parents' habits. And with sustainability becoming a critical mission for the world, 'green mums' know that living the eco-friendly life is the only way they can make their kids care about the environment.
With Mother's Day just around the corner, Khaleej Times finds out how mothers are raising the next generation of plastic-conscious kids.
Dubai resident and homemaker Puja Gandhi wants her children Aaditya and Aditi to grow up as environmentalists. Both are active members of the Emirates Environment Group, participate in clean-up drives, initiate recycling campaigns and conduct environmental workshops in their school and the community.

At home, the two kids get to live a green lifestyle, too, as Puja strives to be a role model for her children. For one, she practises plastic-free cleaning: She uses white vinegar diluted with warm water as a cheap and effective natural surface cleaner, avoiding the need to buy cleaning solutions in plastic bottles. Reusable jute bags are also a must in their household, and yoghurt containers get to have a 'second life' as pots for their plants.
Reusable bottles are preferred and, whenever the family dines out, they carry their own water bottles.
"As parents, we need to be good role models for our children when it comes to adopting an eco-friendly lifestyle. We shoulder a big responsibility to manage our plastic usage and disposal so our children simply follow by example. If we, as adults, do not see the importance of beating plastic pollution, why would they?" Puja said.
Indian expat and a working mother Lalitha Manikandan also has two eco-warriors under her wing. Her 11-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter are both actively involved in environmental activities: They join campaigns against single-use plastics and Sainath, her son, even invented a marine robot cleaner.
Lalitha said she and her family regularly segregate their wastes and recycle - but only after refusing, reducing and reusing plastics and other non-biodegradables. "It is really crucial and important to reduce plastic waste and do our bit to be more eco-conscious by following some simple steps. Recycle as much as you can, recycle e-waste (mobile phones, tablets, desktops, batteries), dispose of wastes in proper bins," she said.

To inspire and motivate her children, Lalitha takes them to green conferences and clean-up campaigns so that "they can learn more about their environment and think of solutions to overcome problems".
"The result of these green activities have encouraged my kids to try to innovate and create ways to help keep the environment clean."
Another homemaker, Iram Rizvi - whose two kids Mishal, 12, and Mir, 8, are known in their school and neighbourhood for eco-activities - said the easiest way to inspire children is for parents to "walk the talk".
"When they see me trying to make the extra effort to cut down plastic use, they are inspired to do the same. It's very rewarding to see them absorbing all that they are learning and seeing around them.
"Both my children regularly take part in recycling campaigns and initiate their own in their school and our neighbourhood. It has become a weekly ritual for them to go around the neighbourhood to collect plastic items and then deposit them at the recycling centre."
The family pays special attention to plastic as, Rizvi said, it has become a commodity that everybody uses indiscriminately. "We've given up using plastic bags and carry our own reusable bags. Even for unplanned purchases, I always have reusable fabric bags in my handbag.
"I encourage my children to carry their reusable water bottles whenever we go out. When they go to school, they always carry their lunch from home. When we go to restaurants, I have my reusable containers for possible leftovers."
Nancy Castelino's daughters, on the other hand, have both learned the habit of collecting plastic bottles thrown near their building, outside restaurants and even at events. They store and recycle them.
"Kids nowadays understand the importance of many things quite fast. We only have to teach them in a proper manner. If kids are taught now, they will definitely be a generation that takes recycling seriously."
saman@khaleejtimes.com
 


More news from