Raising Awareness
Sowing the seeds
The first step in the Project GreenHands process is to raise awareness about the problem. Deforestation and land degradation is a problem of growing significance all over the world. A shift in the existing mindset is crucial to create the awareness that is needed to preserve the natural environment for future generations.
A large-scale and wide-reaching awareness generation campaign has taken place during 2007, using a number of different means and tools to address all levels of society and project stakeholders. More importantly, all over the state of Tamil Nadu, local volunteers have taken personal initiatives to target interest groups through diverse means such as awareness meetings, student talent competitions, nature awareness tours, video shows, processions and games, functions, involvement in nursery development and sapling planting.
Free sapling distribution, in particular, is used to attract public interest in the project and to provide opportunities for promotional meetings and events.
| PGH Outreach components | Frequency | Estimated No. of People reached |
| Awareness Meetings in villages | ongoing | 1.5 million |
| Events (public functions and green festivals) | 100 | 1 million |
| Seminars hosted(Agri Fest) | 1 | 5,000 |
| Stalls at Exhibitions & Conferences (India & overseas events) | 7 | 800,000 |
| Photo Exhibitions | 3 | 15,000 |
| Sounds of Isha concerts | 5 | 7,000 |
| Isha Yoga Programs | 474 | 33,000 |
