Our History

The KIS Center for Environment and Humanity has its roots in a proposal made nearly 40 years ago! In the 1990s, when the Swedish missionary compound and school building in the quaint hill town of Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu were largely left unused, a proposal was written to develop and Environment Center at that location.

The idea of an Environment Center was rediscovered in 2018 when Kodaikanal International School (KIS) was pioneering environmental activism on campus and in the Kodai community. As part of the measures undertaken towards becoming a Green School, KIS installed solar panels and solar water heaters, started organic vegetable gardening, and undertook campus-wide recycling. KIS also expanded its environment initiatives to the broader community by initiating waste management and recycling programs at 30 local schools and 12 hotels. With generous support from its alumni, KIS established the Center for Environment and Humanity (CEH) at the Swedish Compound in 2018. Dr. Clarence Maloney and Dr. R Rajamanikam were two key members of the KIS community who spearheaded the work at the Center.

KIS CEH is an essential platform for KIS students and other young people to fully understand the importance of environmental issues. It is positioned to be recognized internationally as well as within India as a leading establishment in environment activism and research.