Helping protect and preserve the environment is one of the most popular project categories for Sewa Day. The types of projects range from large scale tree planting to small scale garden development; from rubbish clearance in partnership with Sewa Day partners like the Canal & River Trust to ongoing preservation work at the Camley Street Nature Reserve in London. Since the inception of Sewa Day in 2010, volunteers have taken part in numerous projects globally to help the environment. Schools also love to take up the ‘help the environment’ challenge in a bid to get students hands dirty with playground clean-up and bulb planting projects.

United Religions Initiative, Uganda

Recognised with the Sewa Pioneers Award 2014, United Religions Initiative (URI) International, based in Kampala, Uganda planted trees, mangos and potatoes at a school for the families of local prison workers and offered mentoring and career advice to the students. The young volunteers from URI International went to the Murchison Bay Primary School, in the barracks of Luzia Prison in Kampala, which serves the community of employees working at the prison. The group joined the students from the school to plant trees, mangos and potatoes. The impact of the trees will be seen for generations to come and the harvest season will be bountiful with new fruits and vegetables as a result of the efforts of the volunteers. The team also offered career guidance and mentoring services to the students.

City Hindus Network restores a children’s playground.

The City Hindus Network organised multiple projects in 2013 with the biggest volunteer effort so far this year. 25 volunteers at Victoria Park were tasked with restoring sand to the children’s recreational grounds. A park is a public space so working to take care of it is a wonderful way to give back to the community. This is the third consecutive year that CHN have offered sewa at Victoria Park and were recognised for their continual efforts by Victoria Parks Development Officer.

Osterley Park Clear Up

The London Wildlife Trust & Friends of Hatch End were nominated for a Sewa Day Pioneers Award 2013 for organising a conservation project which involved approximately 40 people helping in the local Osterley Park in West London. Volunteering activities included cleaning the park of litter and creating over 150 sacks of wood blocks for sale. The aim was to help beautify this park so that more visitors can enjoy their surroundings. The bags of wood are sold to the general public to provide funds for maintenance of the listed buildings within the grounds. As a result of involving young volunteers, it is hoped that they become more environmentally conscious and responsible for national treasures. Osterley Park is visited by thousands of people on an annual basis.