Projects

THE 8 ECOLOGY PROJECTS OF THE WEST ZONE

The West Zone, consisting of the Provinces of Bombay, Goa, Gujarat and Pune, have formed the West Zone Ecology Platform, after several meetings in Gujarat in 2022 and 2023, of representatives of the 4 Provinces, in which 4 Ecology Networks were identified for collaborative action. In the last meeting at Vinayalaya, Mumbai in April 2024, the 4 Provinces decided on 8 Ecology Projects, 2 for each Ecology Network.

Communication, Advocacy and Research Network – CARE

Coordinated by Fr. P. Suresh S.J. from the Gujarat Province.
The other coordinators for these projects would be Fr. Joel Noronha S.J. from Bombay, Fr. Simon Fernandes S.J. and Fr. Jimmy Mendes from Goa and Fr. Stan Fernandes S.J. from Pune.  

• Promote Natural Farming for sustainability through soil analysis, preparation and use of natural fertilizers using indigenous sources, analysis of the quantity and quality of the produce, soil analysis after the use of natural fertilizers and dissemination of the collected information to promote NF.

• Work at conscientisation for the Elimination of the use of Fossil Fuels: collection and analysis of the available material, preparation of study material for use on different platforms like schools, parishes etc and dissemination of this information through workshops and media platforms.

Renewal Energy Network – REN

Coordinated by Fr. Frazer S.J.

• Adopt Solar energy in all our Jesuit Institutions in the West Zone, with the goal of reaching full dependence on green energy within 3 years, as a demonstration of this possibility for the larger community. The coordinator for Goa would be Fr. Nigel Alphonso S.J., Fr. Rayappan S.J. for Gujarat and Sr. Prisca Tirkey R.S.C.J. for Pune.
• Acquire and encourage the use of bio-gas plants for households in the rural areas, including our own institutions, as a replacement for imported LPG or firewood (using the expertise gained in Belgaum). This project would be coordinated by Fr. Vivian Lopes S.J. for Bombay, Fr. Nigel Alphonso for Goa, Fr. Rayappan S.J. for Gujarat and Sr. Prisca Tirkey R.S.C.J. for Pune.  

Spirituality, Education, Awareness and Lifestyle Network – SEAL

Coordinated by Fr. Joseph Nazareth S.J from Goa.

• Create leaders through an Eco Club in each Jesuit School, that will network with other Schools intra-Province and inter-Provinces. This project would be coordinated by Mr. Baba Prasad Lanka for Bombay, Sr. Myra and Fr. John for Goa, Fr. Arul Rayan S.J. and Fr. Melwin D’Sa for Gujarat and Fr. Titus T. S.J. for Pune.
• Form an effective Eco Group in every Jesuit Parish that will network with other Parishes, Social Centres and with Schools across the Zone. Fr. Gerard Rodricks S.J would be the Coordinator for Bombay, Sr. Myra and Fr. John for Goa, Fr. Arul Rayan S.J and Fr. Melwin S.J. for Gujarat and Fr. Titus T. S.J. for Pune.

Agriculture and Natural Resource Management Network– ANRM

Coordinated by Fr. Siju Varghese S.J. from Pune

• Create a model village in each Province in the West Zone based on the SDGs 1-6, 12 and 13.  It includes conservation and regeneration of natural resources, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, of indigenous medicines and of alternative energy, with research and documentation related to NRM. In the next six months each Province will identify the village (preferably a marginalized community) and conduct a baseline survey. The coordinators are Fr. Vivian Lopes S.J. for Bombay, Fr. Santosh S.J. for Goa, Fr. Francis D’Sa for Gujarat and Fr. Patrick Martin S.J. for Pune.
• Create a Model Slum in an urban area of each Province. This project would be coordinated by Fr. Joy Fernandes for Bombay, Fr. Santosh S.J. for Goa, Fr. Francis D’Sa for Gujarat and Fr. Patrick Martin S.J for Pune.

For these 8 Projects, every Province will own up responsibility for their implementation in the entire Zone, through active communication and sharing of expertise and funding sources. Each Province has a coordinator for each Project, so that the 4 coordinators for each Project can be in active communication.

The Coordinators of the 8 Projects have met at least once online and have chalked out a plan of action for each Project. For some projects, a baseline survey was thought necessary before an action-plan could be finalized.

The SEAL network decided on a survey of their School Eco-clubs and Parish Ecology Groups

A survey form for Schools was circulated and 25 schools responded: 9 from Gujarat, 8 from Bombay, 5 from Goa and 3 from Pune. These responses have been tabulated and are being treated as a Pilot Survey, since many Schools have not responded at all and there is better clarity about the type of activities being done. An updated Survey Form is now being prepared and will be sent to every Jesuit School in the Zone, so that authentic information can be gathered about the status of these Eco-Clubs, before a blue-print for every Jesuit School Eco-Club can be proposed.

Similarly, a Survey Form for Parishes was circulated and 16 Parishes responded: 8 from Gujarat, 6 from Bombay and 2 from Goa. These are being collated and common features are being identified, in order to propose a blue-print from every Parish Ecology Group.

The REN network decided on baseline surveys for their projects

A focused base-line survey to see what is the exact situation of functional bio-gas plants in each Province. Fr. Vivian has created a baseline survey Format for Institutions and for Individual rural houses, so that we have comparable data. This will be administered soon. In the meantime, Fr. Vivian is conducting a Workshop at Shirpur on Biogas and after that experience, an online session will be conducted for representative from the Zone. Pune has planned a trip to Belgaum where these plants have been successful.

Similarly, a survey of all our Jesuit Institutions and Residences is being done regarding the status of green energy use and the achieving of zero electricity bills. A Solar Dashboard has been updated and is available on the Zonal Ecology Platform Website: https://ecosjwestzone.org/ Each Province is now evaluating how much of solar energy will be required for each Institution to achieve the near-zero electricity bill.

The ANRM network decided to take up both projects

They will identify a village in each Province and create a model village to implement organic farming, natural resource management and projects like watershed, soil treatment, rainwater harvesting, alternative energy, etc.

Similarly, for urban settings a particular slum which requires intervention would be identified and interventions with respect to waste management, sanitation, recycling etc would be planned.

A baseline survey of a proposed village and slum in each Province was decided upon.

The CARE network is working towards exposure to the research of the other Province’s centers

The Pune Province Social Centre Watershed Technical team is visiting Kanasagiri (Taluka: Gokak; Dist.: Belgaum) to investigate the possibility of providing Goa Province and its Kanasagiri team with technical support to implement a demo watershed project (50 hectares). They will also seek to exchange expertise on the biogas plant units that have been set up in the Belgaum region and the Ahmednagar district. An exposure visit to the Xavier Institute of Research, Ahmedabad, by a team from the Ahmednagar Social Centre and from Ashankur is being planned. Support is also being sought in conducting biodiversity studies in the watershed villages in Pune Province, to document the transformation. The Research Institutes of Bombay and Gujarat Provinces are also entering into an MOU for collaborative research in microbiology.

Frazer Mascarenhas S.J.
Coordinator, West Zone Ecology Platform.