Green Health Clubs

Positive influences in the school years can have far reaching benefits for adult life and forms the underlying rational for health education during childhood. School children have been viewed as both recipients & transmitters of health knowledge. Thus realizing the fact that, if these children are socialized through scientific and systematic means into behavior that is conducive to healthy living, they will not only grow into the healthy adults but also be able to influence those around them, thereby enhancing the health status of their communities, Sambandh has started a comprehensive school health programs through its "Arogyam" project with a view to provide community health services based on indigenous health care systems & practices to the grassroots. Each of the members of the school students adopt one medicinal plant and plants the same at the herbal garden at the school premises and collects the information on the uses, identification process and propagation methods of such plants. Every week there are two classes, which are normally taken up by the local vaidyas for imparting teaching on the uses of various medicinal plants and identification process. The students also go for Padayatras for creating awareness among the local villagers for conservation of the medicinal plants and promotion of the local uses. With the initiatives of Sambandh along with the efforts by the organization of Indigenous health practitioners till yet 42 Green health clubs have been formed. The members of the clubs have done plantation in their school campus & organize various competitions relating to environmental affairs and developed wall magazines.