Location: INDIA
The Project
What happens when young students are given the tools and the trust to connect with the natural world? In a rural corner of Tamil Nadu, India, the answer came to life through an inspired grassroots effort that turned a one-day school event into a powerful launchpad for environmental stewardship. With support from The Pollination Project, Kuyili Organization led a bird conservation and wetland preservation program that brought 87 students into direct contact with their local ecosystem. On January 11, 2025, the school community took part in a lakeside clean-up, followed by an immersive birdwatching and biodiversity awareness session.
Armed with pocket guides and binoculars, many for the first time, students identified species like the Little Egret, Glossy Ibis, and Little Cormorant.
“For many children, this was their first experience using binoculars, allowing them to explore the avian world up close,” shared Keerthi Selvaraj, Kuyili’s founder.
Beyond the excitement, the project fostered deeper reflection, blending ecological education with simple, impactful action.
The Impact of the Seed Grant
The Pollination Project seed grant has been an important financial backing and also a vote of confidence in grassroots leadership. With the funding, Kuyili rented binoculars, printed field guides, distributed eco-friendly caps, and ensured safe transport and nourishment for nearly 100 participants, all while embedding zero-waste practices into the event design. The team avoided single-use plastics by asking students to bring their own cups, preventing nearly 200 disposable items from ending up in landfills.
“This initiative successfully instilled environmental responsibility in young students, ensuring they become future advocates for nature.”
Students removed 45 kg of waste from a nearby lake, and some expressed interest in starting birdwatching at home. Teachers pledged to expand eco-learning through the school’s eco-club. The project’s broader influence was soon publicly recognized: Kuyili was honored with the Water Conservator Award by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu during World Environment Day celebrations.
This is exactly the kind of ripple effect The Pollination Project seeks to nurture, where a single act of trust unlocks potential far beyond its starting point.
The Future
Looking ahead, Kuyili is developing a self-learning biodiversity gallery, planning ongoing clean-ups, and expanding conservation workshops across the region. Their dream is clear: to raise a generation of young people who see nature not as a background to their lives, but as something they’re responsible for protecting.
“We are committed to building on this success,” they wrote, “and nurturing a generation that values and actively protects biodiversity.”
Through the power of grassroots passion – and a grant that believed in it – this project proves how change truly takes root.
“ This project has not only led to tangible environmental improvements but also sparked a passion for nature among young learners. Witnessing the excitement in the children’s eyes and their eagerness to learn about the environment has been truly rewarding. “
Keerthi Selvaraj
Keerthi Selvaraj is a civil structural engineer turned conservationist whose passion for bird photography sparked a grassroots movement in environmental education. What began with a gifted camera and a personal goal to document local birdlife quickly evolved into a deeper mission. Within six months, she had recorded the region’s common birds on Ebird, becoming the first in her district to do so. Her explorations led her to Gomuki Dam, where she discovered the harmful impact of pollution and deforestation on wetland ecosystems. Moved by what she saw, Keerthi began using her photography to educate others, first as a college professor, then in public schools across Tamil Nadu. She has since reached over 5,000 students in 30 schools, advocating for biodiversity, wetland protection, and sustainable living. Through her work, Keerthi continues to inspire the next generation to cherish and protect the natural world.
Join The Pollination Project in seeding a global movement of grassroots change. When we invest in passionate local leaders, small acts of generosity blossom into lasting impact. Every dollar you give takes root in communities, growing into sustainable solutions that touch countless lives.
