The 1stNational Children Mountain Conservation Meet organized by Adventure Foundation Pakistan (AFP) was held from 1st to 10th July 2002 in Kaghan Valley, Pakistan. 110 children between the age group of 12 to 14 selected from all over Pakistan along with a team of experts and resource persons participated in 10 days camp which was held in the scenic Valley of Kaghan to undertake various activities aimed at study and improvement of mountain nvironment.
This project was launched on the occasion of International Year of Mountains-2002 with a view to create awareness among young people about the mountain ecosystems and involve them in meaningful activities using mountains’ environment as an open classroom. Under this programme 100 to 120 children are selected from all parts of Pakistan to attend a 10 days camp in mountain environment. 50 percent vacancies are reserved for children coming from low-income families and remote areas.
This programme involves young children in an action-oriented form of learning about the natural environment and its related problems. Eventually it makes them conscious enough to do something practical for the conservation and preservation of our natural environment. The children who attend this Meet are given the title of “Eco Guards” which gives them confidence to play an active role in their day to day life to create awareness about protection of natural environment and its important role in our daily life.
More than One hundred young participants and volunteer staff members from all over the country including children from far-flung areas of Hunza, Gojal, Astore, Chitral in up north and Lasbela in extreme south have participated in this programme. It is now an annual event of AFP and every year 100 to 120 children benefit from this meaningful programme.
In order to provide children with a platform to express their views about the environmental concerns a Children Mountain Forum is held at the end of the programme. This year Children Mountain Forum was held in Islamabad on 9 July 2002. Barrister Shahida Jamil, Federal Minister for Environment, Local Government and Rural Development was the Chief Guest on the occasion.
The chief guest in his address said that percentage of garbage and waste products in Pakistan Has increased to an alarming level causing serious consequences to the atmosphere. In this connection she informed that international companies would establish recycling plants in Pakistan.
The minister stressed the need for creating awareness among general public and tourists that they should stop polluting the environment. She praised the Adventure Foundation Pakistan for organizing such a healthy event in which 100 children from different provinces/cities of the country participated. She termed NCMC Meet as a commendable job done by the children to preserve the environment of the beautiful mountains of Kaghan valley.
In his address on the occasion, President of Adventure Foundation Pakistan, Brig. Jan Nadir Khan (R) congratulated the children and staff of the Foundation on completion of the event, and said that the general masses should learn the lessons from these children. He said the zeal and zest with which more than 100 boys and girls from all over Pakistan worked for the protection and preservation of the environment of Kaghan Valley during the course of NCMC Meet-2002, was a source of pride for them, their parents and the nation
At the end of the closing ceremony, the Chief Guest gave away certificates and souvenirs to the participants as well as sponsors & supporters of the Meet
This project is now an annual event of AFP. In our future programmes we have planned to invite children from other Asian countries too. If any organization or individual is interested to collaborate with Adventure Foundation Pakistan for the future programmes please do let us know.
