Joint Venture between
Spenta Foundation & Jane Goodall Institute India
We recently had the privilege of Dr. Jane Goodall, the world-renowned primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace, discuss conservation with our founder, Burgis Bulsara
Aim:
1. To support and empower the children of tea estate workers in Assam and North Bengal.
2. To sensitize the children about the need to co-exist with the elephant herds that frequently visit their fields and homes, by prevailing upon Mr Abhijit Bhattacharya, who is the head of the Volleyball children’s teams in the area, to consider the elephant as the mascot for one of the teams. By sensitizing the children, their parents too would be sensitized and ultimately the entire community would fall in with harmonized existence.
Steps being followed:
Jane Goodall Institute India and Spenta Foundation jointly sponsored one of the children’s teams that had the elephant as its mascot.
The mascot with the caption ‘Let’s Coexist’ was printed on the children’s T-shirts. In addition, a banner carrying the same message with the elephant logo, prepared by the two organizations, was also carried by the team allotted, at the start of each of their matches.
As planned by Mr. Abhijit, each team played with the teams in the neighbouring villages. Thus, the ‘elephant logo’ and message was spread to several villages belonging to the tea estate workers.
Amount for sponsorship of a single team:
Rs 15,000. This amount covered the children’s T-shirts, shoes, training fees, volleyballs, nets, travel expenses and other accessories. The said amount was jointly paid by Jane Goodall Institute India and Spenta Foundation.
Team allotted for sponsorship:
Mr Abhijit has arranged to allot the under-16, girls’ team, Fekelajan in the name of Jane Goodall Institute India and Spenta Foundation. This centre is located near the foothills of Dihing Patkai Mountain Range, in Dibrugarh District of Assam. The people here are used to witnessing regular elephant movement, right through their village. Thus, it can be an excellent case study and hopefully help to solve the problem of human-elephant conflicts.
Inauguration of the Volleyball matches:
The inauguration ceremony of BVL Season 5, was held at Mikirbheta Village in Morigaon District of Assam, on 19th October 2024, at 4 pm. Mr Abhijeet had invited members of both Jane Goodall Institute India and Spenta Foundation for the opening ceremony.
