Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jul: The Dehradun-based environmental action and advocacy group, Social Development for Communities (SDC) Foundation, with the support of Ramboll, officially launched Project PAHAL 2.0 – Youth Climate and Leadership Programme at PM SHRI Government Girls’ Inter College (GGIC), Rajpur Road, here.
The launch brought together students and teachers from government and private schools across Dehradun, along with education experts and development sector representatives. Premlata Baudai, Principal, PM SHRI GGIC, Rajpur Road, attended the programme as the Chief Guest and highlighted the importance of strengthening climate awareness and leadership among young people.
Building on SDC Foundation’s experience working with schools over the past seven years, Project PAHAL 2.0 aims to move beyond awareness and create meaningful skill-building opportunities for young people. The programme will strengthen students’ understanding of climate change while building critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving, communication and leadership skills.
The programme will be led by Rishabh Shrivastava, Co-founder, SDC Foundation, a climate and research expert with extensive experience in the social development sector. During the launch, he presented the programme’s learning framework and explained the key modules, learning approaches and competencies that Project PAHAL 2.0 aims to develop among students.
Rishabh added, “The programme will use experiential and inquiry-based learning approaches to encourage students to ask questions, examine evidence and understand the connections between climate change, society and development. Rooted in the lived experiences of local communities, the programme will engage students through interactive learning sessions, group discussions, reflection exercises, quizzes, games and other hands-on activities over the coming months.
During the launch, SDC Foundation released its baseline study report titled “Understanding Climate Education Needs for Young People in Dehradun.” Based on responses from more than 700 students across schools in Dehradun, the study provides important insights into students’ knowledge, perspectives and understanding of climate change.
The findings of the baseline study will serve as a foundation for designing the programme curriculum, developing learning modules and planning activities that respond to students’ existing levels of understanding and learning needs. The findings are also expected to contribute to the development of future climate education initiatives in schools.
Students and teachers from several government and private schools across Dehradun attended the event, including PM SHRI GGIC Rajpur Road, CNI Girls School, Sophia High School, SGRR Race Course, SGRR Bindal, SGRR Patel Nagar, GGIC Lakhibagh, SGN Doon Valley School, Bhawani Balika Inter College, Harbans Kapoor GGIC Kaulagarh, GIC Khurbura, Sangam Public School and Sanatan Dharma Jhanda Ji Inter College, among others.
Teachers and students welcomed the initiative and emphasised the need for learning opportunities that connect classroom education with real-world environmental challenges. Students shared that climate change is increasingly visible in their everyday lives, while teachers highlighted the role of experiential learning in strengthening students’ confidence, leadership abilities and sense of environmental responsibility.
On the occasion, Anoop Nautiyal, Founder, SDC Foundation, said, “Climate change is increasingly shaping the lives and futures of young people. Through Project PAHAL 2.0, we aim to move beyond awareness and enable students to develop the knowledge, skills and leadership needed to better understand environmental challenges and contribute meaningfully to solutions in their schools and communities.
The event was attended by retired Major Rahul Jugran, Prerna Raturi, Sumati Virmani, Vidushi Dobhal-Naithani, Pyare Lal, Praveen Upreti, Abhishek Bhatt, Subhash and other members of SDC Foundation. Dinesh Semwal from SDC conducted the programme and played a key role in coordinating with schools and mobilising teachers and students for the launch event.
