Driving Impact, One Project at a Time
Innovative solutions, empowered communities, and a healthier planet — our projects are paving the way for a sustainable future. Explore how we’re making a difference in alignment with United Nations 17 Sustainable Development goals (UN SDGs).

• Each year, 50 students participate in 160 hours of hands-on learning over 23 weeks.
• Activities include species identification, biodiversity monitoring, ecological storytelling, and community engagement.
• Students lead environmental campaigns, clean-ups, and tree-planting drives.

Read a story covering the impact of JNAN in The Kodai Chronicle.

Or, watch some of our student-led initiatives! Click here

• 100% of JNAN students adopt sustainable practices at home such as composting, recycling, or planting native trees.
• 90% of schools report improved leadership and teamwork among JNAN students.
• 50% of participants take on leadership roles for environmental projects in their schools or neighborhoods.

Watch some of our student-led initiatives! Click here

• Creating natural microcosms within our campus, including shola forest, grassland, wetland, and farming zones. View our Living Laboratory plan here.
• Testing sustainable farming methods like no-till agriculture, mushroom cultivation, and the application of DIY inputs such as biochar and panchagavya - and sharing successful practices with local farmers.
• Developing a native nursery with shola trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses, and a seed bank of open pollinated  heirloom seeds sourced in Kodaikanal.
• Hosting  educational visits for schools, colleges, and research institutions.

Read about information gathered from our network of farmers in the South Asia Region Climate Knowledge Hub.

• Built a network of 120 farmers to exchange ideas and practice sustainable methods.
• Gathered approximately 2000 Shola seeds from 12 different species to conserve local biodiversity through our nursery and seed bank.
• Generated 500 kg of organic inputs and produce, inspiring sustainable farming practices across the region.
• Hosted 13 workshops for school and college students, and local community groups on topics from mushroom cultivation to regenerative agriculture. 

• Run a community recycling drop-off facility.
• Train municipal workers, students, and businesses in waste segregation and management.
• Implement composting and recycling programs in 15 government schools.
• Lead clean up drives in pristine shola habitats and and crucial water sources such as streams, marshes, and lakes. 

Read this article about a hotelier in Kodaikanal inspired by CEH, now leading the way in waste management within the hospitality industry.

• Process 20 tons of waste each year, reducing our landfill load.
• Reach 170 hotel owners and 3,000 students, reshaping waste habits.
• Collect over 500 kg of waste from forests and streams each clean up drive.
• Preserve Kodaikanal’s ecosystems and enhance its appeal for sustainable tourism.

• Establish waste management infrastructure from dustbins in dorms and signage in classrooms, to a compost yard for dining hall waste.
• Educate operational staff, professional staff, and students on the importance of segregation at source. 
• Identify and implement zero-waste alternatives across school departments and activities.
• Involve KIS students in recycling and composting activities - aligning with their CAS and Service as Action requirements. 

• Process 20 tons of waste from each year, reducing our landfill load.
• Reach 170 hotel owners and 3,000 students, reshaping waste habits.
• Collect over 500 kg of waste from forests and streams each clean up drive.
• Preserve Kodaikanal’s ecosystems and enhance its appeal for sustainable tourism.

• Field explorations such as guided visits to local forests, farms, and communities to inspire firsthand learning and documentation.
• Workshops on writing, photography, and storytelling sessions to help students develop narratives on culture and ecology.
• Community showcases and public readings where students share their work with peers, families, and the broader community.

Read Vanam Diaries:
Issue 1 - Fall 2023
Issue 2 - Spring 2024
Issue 3 - Fall 2024

• Every year, we publish 20 stories written by KIS and local school children on their reflections of living in Kodaikanal.
• Over 200 copies of Vanam Diaries are printed each issue, and distributed to alumni, parents, and the local community reaching a wide audience. 
• Shifts in students' understanding and concern for local cultural and ecological issues.

• Built a stunning exhibit of 13 life-like bird sculptures, complete with their songs and calls recorded from the forest.
• Ran 15 hands-on workshops for 500+ kids, diving into wildlife art, bird-watching, and conservation know-how.
• Launched a bilingual animated video and website (English & Tamil) to spread the word Sky Island birds and the role they play in maintaining ecological balance.

Watch "Endangered" the film, here!

• Brought the rare Sky Island ecosystem to life for students and visitors through our permanent exhibit.
• Helped 500 kids master bird-watching, conservation skills, and creative techniques.
• Sparked global conversations about protecting habitats and biodiversity.

• Conducted interactive art and storytelling workshops across 8 schools and art galleries in Mumbai.
• Introduced urban youth to key ecological concepts linking wildlife conservation to city life.
• Engaged 300 students in creative learning around biodiversity through storytelling and quilling art techniques.
• Highlighted 4 keystone species endemic to India—spanning coastal, mountainous, and urban ecosystems.

• Sparked environmental curiosity and empathy among 300 young participants from diverse urban backgrounds.
• Students developed a clear understanding of how biodiversity supports the well-being of human life in cities.
• Strengthened creative expression and communication skills through art-based conservation storytelling.
• Enabled students to articulate the importance of protecting India’s ecosystems and the species they depend on.

• Launched recycling and composting programs in 17 schools.
• Created Eco-clubs to engage students in hands-on conservation.
• Held bird identification workshops and nature field trips.
• Organized an Earth Day competition with 300+ participants.

• Fostered a sense of responsibility and connection to nature among 3000 students.
• Diverted 4 tons of waste through school recycling programs, annually.
• Cultivated environmental champions in the local community.

• Trained 90 teachers from 17 schools in a 10-day program on Waste Management and Climate Change.
• Focused on environmental topics and post-pandemic teaching approaches, to get students away from screen and back into the real-world.

• Kept teachers engaged and prepared for post-lockdown challenges.
• Strengthened environmental education in schools.

• The Indian Climate Experience will feature 19 interactive, student-friendly exhibits.
• Visitors will engage with immersive displays and hands-on science experiments that explore climate change, biodiversity, and community action.
• Key exhibits include a bicycle-powered wind turbine, camera trap footage of local wildlife, and sensory experiments demonstrating carbon capture and storage.
• The experience will blend storytelling, technology, and science—starting with a welcome video grounded in community voices and ending with calls to personal and collective action.

• It brings climate science to life by localizing it—connecting the global crisis to tangible changes in the Palani Hills and Kodaikanal.
• The exhibit fosters environmental literacy among youth, equipping them with the knowledge and emotional connection needed for future climate action.
• It emphasizes the role of biodiversity and ecosystems in climate mitigation, inspiring stewardship of local species and habitats.
• By demonstrating that every small action counts, it encourages civic engagement, collaboration, and responsibility—empowering communities to act on climate challenges.

• Students and citizens will learn hands-on skills in biodiversity monitoring, fieldwork, and ecosystem management.
• Research will spotlight the health of the ecosystem and guide long-term restoration efforts.
• Community engagement will ensure that conservation isn’t just a project – it’s a legacy.

• A comprehensive understanding of the Bombay Shola ecosystem and how to restore it.
   
• Empowered community members ready to take the lead in protecting their natural resources.
   
• A roadmap for long-term conservation success driven by local stewardship.