When we started Himalaya & You we realized that many people want to do something for the environment but lack avenues to 'action' these ideas. We hoped that with Himalaya & You we could provide students with a platform to speak out about environmental issues.

At the close of the program we asked the participants what they had learnt as a result of this program.

This is what the students of one of the volunteering colleges had to say,

"It was a great learning experience. Our projects and field visits helped us learn a little more about our environment. We would now like to take this forward and implement what we can to improve our environment."

- Students of Jyothi Nivas College, Bangalore

As a result of the program the students were sensitized to various environmental problems. They developed a better understanding of the causes and impacts of environmental degradation and the importance of natural systems for preservation of health.

The schools showed a lot of interest in the activities and during the course of the program started seriously thinking about environmental problems relevant to them and ways to address the same. The biggest achievement has been the impact of the educational drive on the students, who are now in action-mode, gearing to take their learning to the next level! Students put together a clever action plan to fight some of the menacing environmental issues on their campus. This implementing will begin in full swing in the coming academic year. The mantra is positive 'action', which is what we wanted to accomplish through the initiative.

For Himalaya, it was a great experience working with the 'next generation' on environmental issues. Their optimism and dedication along with the will to act was refreshing and encouraging.

Speaking at the Grand Finale of Himalaya & You, Mr. Ravi Prasad, President and CEO of The Himalaya Drug Company, articulated one of the core elements of Himalaya's environment philosophy,"Education on environmental awareness needs to start at a young age. Youngsters need to be make informed choices about how they lead their life, the value they place on the environment and how they interact with it. This is possible only if they are given information about the environment, its impact on our health and overall quality of life, at an early age."

Himalaya & You has been a success because of the collaborative effort of all participants, with each of them bringing a unique perspective and experience to the table.

Since the activities of corporates have a tremendous impact on the environment they need to take proactive steps to prevent environmental degradation. We have already initiated a program to protect biodiversity and promote organic, sustainable farming amongst small and marginal farmers.

In keeping with our commitment to the environment, we will continue to conceptualize innovative programs aimed at protecting nature. We believe that without effective corporate-community synergies the task of preserving the environment can be very daunting. Going forward, we intend to create more avenues to mobilize and involve communities in the movement to save the environment.