Swechha - We for change

Ross Perot said "The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river" Yamuna Yatra is our oldest program that started as a campaign in August 2000 for creating and spreading awareness about the pitiable state of Yamuna in Delhi. It uses innovative methods to attract the attention of the government, media and other civil society organizations working for the cause of Yamuna.

Context

Journey of a lifetime, on the river of life…..

Yamuna Yatra is an innovative and an "out-of-the-box" method to induce greater understanding of our environment and our own selves. It is a 12-day journey along the banks of the River Yamuna, exploring the ecological, social, cultural, mystical, spiritual and political facets of the river.

The Yamuna Yatras began in 2004. Over the years, Swechha has organized seven Yamuna Yatras which have been supported by various national and international organizations in the past namely, the US Embassy, British Council, Vasant Valley School, The Shri Ram Schools, Pathways World School and the European Union.

Objectives

• To learn about the ecology of the Yamuna, the implications of policies and government programs on the river.

• To witness the consequences of rapid urbanization and water consumption patterns and draw parallels between specific issues concerning the Yamuna to those that affect other rivers in India and water bodies internationally.

• To meet and gain knowledge about the communities those depend and survive on the river.

• To understand the linkage between environment, religion, culture and globalization.

Activities

Elements of the Yatra

Yatris will engage in a variety of interactive activities to complement and nurture their learning and experience along the journey including:
• Treks, hikes, walks, swims
• Workshops on Culture, Ecology, Identity, sustainability and development
• Village Assessment Studies
• Film Screenings
• Music by the river
• Interactions with communities along the banks-many of which are ancient hill tribes.
• Environmental Audits and Action Projects
• Yoga, meditation, dips in the pristine river
• Camping, Cook-Your-Own-Meal

Photo Gallery

Video Streaming

Get Involved

• If you are from an educational institution, you can contact us to organize a Yamuna Yatra for your students. • If you are a corporate house or an entrepreneur, you can fund Yamuna Yatra for college students and development professionals. • If you are from an environmental organization • If you are a donor or funding agency, you can help us by (a) funding us to organize Yamuna Yatra (b) provide institutional support. • If you are an individual and care for your society and environment, watch out for the announcement of our next Open Yamuna Yatra.

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