Dear All,
I am sharing this interesting piece titled When Cinderella Fights Climate Change  to continue this discussion. This piece highlights the growing shelf of children's literature incorporating environmental issues and awareness. I am copying some thoughts from the piece that highlight why WASH needs to be incorporated in children's literature and offer insights about how to do it. 

• children who are connected with their natural surroundings will be stewards of these spaces. But for that to happen they have to be taken out of the classroom to be amongst nature and build connections with the outdoors
• When you’re communicating something as bleak and horrible as climate disaster, humour helps soften the blow
• “The climate fiction I read showed that ethics and empathy are needed to take meaningful climate action while non-fiction books revealed the ground realities of the issue. The books were stepping stones for my coming to understand that as a global citizen it was my responsibility to mitigate the biggest crisis facing our planet. 
• fiction has the power to get young readers invested in the lives and problems of characters even before the environmental problems are laid out. Books introduce ideas that are a starting point for deeper conversations and further enquiry in children
• While they rarely offer a happily-ever-after, they do offer hope. 

I sincerely hope this discussion and these articles encourage WASH sector professionals with the skill and flair to work on incorporating WASH issues in children's literature. 
Feel free to share your thoughts and, importantly, examples of books that deal with different aspects of WASH. 

Regards
paresh 

Thank you Ajitji. 
May I request you to share more about the work of Sunil Mysore? Perhaps a link to their work would be very useful. 

Thank you Chaiwe. I completely agree with you "What we do is a huge part of who we are". 

Regards
paresh

Let me give info on a few kidos, doing Environmental initiatives like a professional. 
Mr Sunil Mysore from Bengaluru.. is one of the Greats.. 
With best regards 
AjitSeshadri 

Hello Paresh,

I love and appreciate this post a lot. It goes to show that what we do is a huge part of who we are at a personal level. I have kids too, and they are a huge part of my journey. Their little minds are soaking in everything I am passionate about with respect to circularity in the sanitation sector. My Son cant stop talking about Biochar (in this case produced from Faecal Sludge) and is always keen to take part in the production and application process. 



Its amazing to see kids getting involved early in managing waste! Children's books are amazing for sparking curiosity and shaping attitudes, especially when it comes to topics like waste management and what role they can play in the sanitation conversation. These stories can really plant seeds of change in young minds.

It's certainly not just about brining them to the job to keep them occupied, or reading them a mare bedtime story; these experiences teach empathy, critical thinking, creativity, responsibility and how to appreciate our environment. By giving our children the tools and knowledge now, we're setting them up to tackle waste challenges with confidence later on.

Thanx for sharing Paresh!

The International  Day Of Zero Waste is yet another opportunity to highlight the profound impact of WASH on the sustainability of our planet and the significance of altering our individual and collective behaviours. “Catch them young” is an adage one often hears when discussing behaviour change, but how is not often discussed. Based on my own experience of trying to raise a kid, I think an incredibly effective avenue is through children’s literature 📖



Children’s books are designed to spark curiosity, ignite imagination, and shape attitudes from a tender age. By introducing stories that delve into the complex world of waste management, including sanitation workers who often face stigma, we can influence young minds and hopefully plant seeds of change we all wish to see.

One can think of myriad stories waiting to be discovered. They include the heroic tales of Bezwada Wilson, Late Bindeshwar Pathak, Afroz Shah, Sheela Patel, and many others. They also include educational narratives explaining the importance of segregating, composting, reducing, reusing, and recycling, RRR. Besides entertainment, these books have the potential to educate; fostering a generation that sees the waste problem as an opportunity to bring about a positive change.

The impact of such literary experiences goes beyond mere entertainment. They cultivate empathy, critical thinking, and an appreciation for the environment. By empowering the future generation with awareness, we could nurture a generation poised to tackle the challenge with determination.

As we observe the International Day of Zero Waste, let us commit to investing in resources that empower our youth. Let’s champion initiatives that bring sustainability education into schools, libraries, and homes all over. Let’s catch them young and, together, create a world where waste is not just managed but minimised, where every action contributes to a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

Also posted on LinkedIn

Regards
paresh