Tucked away in the foothills of the Vandalur hill in suburban Chennai is Mannivakkam, a green suburb with a vibrant community. The Panchayat Union Primary School became the latest center for an inspiring environmental initiative. On the 29th of June 2024, the Environmentalist Foundation of India-E.F.I, in collaboration with ONE and the district administration of Chengalpet, conducted an event to enhance the green cover of the school, spread environmental awareness among the students.

Catch of the effort was the creation of our first ever “EFI’s Herbashala,” a dedicated herbal garden within the Mannivakkam Panchayat Union Primary School school. 

Total area – 2350 sq ft,
Where we did:
– Deweeding,
– Land preparation,
– Erect a bamboo fence

336 plants of 26 different varieties,
Tulsi, Aloe Vera, Lemongrass, Hibiscus etc. ,various flowering such as Oleander, Golden shower, Jasmine  and fruit plants like Pomegranate, Custard Apple, Sapodilla, Mango etc.

The herbal garden would not only add to the vegetation cover at the school but is also serving as a learning tool for the students, introducing them to their new world of greens.

The volunteers from ONE added a touch of art to the school environment by painting eco-themed murals. The themes were based on the five landscapes of ancient தமிழ் literature:

குறிஞ்சி (Kurinji) relating to the mountainous regions;

முல்லை Mullai, the forests; 

மருதம் (Marudham), the agricultural lands; 

பாலை (Paalai), relating to desert and arid regions and 

நெய்தல் (Neidhal), the coastal regions;

These 28 volunteers were involved in this creative project, where all these features were meticulously depicted, transforming the school walls into vivid canvases that display the rich ecological heritage of Tamil Nadu.

We did not stop there, we went ahead to make 500 seed balls with Bamboo and Banyan seeds. These seed balls are to be dispersed across different areas to promote a greener tomorrow. This activity not only served the immediate goal of increasing plant life but also instilled a sense of responsibility among participants toward nature conservation.

This E.F.I initiative at the Mannivakkam Panchayat Union Primary School Is not just nurturing those herbs, goes on to sow the seeds of future in these students.

A true collaboration in conservation between the students-administration-ONE-E.F.I, 

reiterating our value of #TogetherTowardsTomorrow.

As students of Panchayat Union Primary School walk through their new herbal garden and gaze at the colorful landscapes adorning their walls, they are reminded of the importance of environmental stewardship and the role they can play in nurturing nature. This intervention transformed the physical environment of the school and sowed the seeds of ecological consciousness in these young minds—the seedlings of a greener and healthier tomorrow for one and all.
Check out the #ForestsOfIndia that E.F.I is developing through our #ForesTREE and #Herbashala initiatives:

Volunteer with us: www.indiavolunteer.org
Check out our Solai Vanam.

Also do not forget to win medals for the planet at EFIlympics.