Bengaluru: Saturday morning saw a diverse set of activities in the city under The Times of India’s #IamBengaluru – Volunteer for Parks.The campaign’s fifth week began with a jog and plogging activity at Jakkur Park, led by Jalaposhan Trust, encouraging participants to combine fitness with environmental action. At RBI Layout Park No. 2, Youth for Seva organised a plogging and clean-up drive followed by a waste segregation session. Students of National Public School, Rajajinagar, as part of their Project Evara initiative, demonstrated innovative methods of textile waste segregation to volunteers.Meanwhile, Koramangala 5th Block Park hosted a unique botanical art workshop, led by Youth for Seva and blending creativity with sustainability. The session drew art and design enthusiasts. Mentored by Pavithra S, MD, Kiria Arts, Professional Tanjore Painter & Resin Artist, the activity saw innovative artworks created out of dried flora. Sakshi Sharma, a product designer, created an inspiring piece themed ‘Mother Nature’ using pressed flowers and dried leaves.The weekend’s activities reflected the movement’s growing emphasis on combining environmental action with learning, creativity and community participation. The initiative is presented by Multigen, in association with Kristu Jayanti University and supported by Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA).Participants speakPavithra S, botanical workshop mentorBengaluru’s parks and greenery are not what they were in the 1990s. Such events help children and adults reconnect with nature and bring them back to parksKeshika, product designer, MicrosoftThis activity (botanical art workshop) was extremely useful and made me slow down and see the things around me. In this fast-paced digital era, where we can generate things within minutes, it’s important to come together and create something meaningful in the midst of nature. #IamBengaluru by TOI is a great initiative. If we can come together as a team for a few hours on weekends, contribute to making our parks better, network with other like-minded people, it’s time well spentSakshi Joshi, content marketer, Cooke TownThe workshop was a very important exercise, in the age of AI when everything is available instantly. We should always come back to nature and step away from the usual hustle to slow down. This activity also helps us polish our creativity and embrace imperfectionAravind Suraj, design executive, United Way Bengaluru, freelance photographerTOI’s #IamBengaluru is an awesome campaign bringing people into parks. This was my first ever activity in a Bengaluru park and I enjoyed it thoroughly, as it was centred around my hobbiesAbhigyan Roy, BBA studentGen Z is chronically online. For us, coming to parks for creative activities is much needed and helpful to meaningfully stimulate the brainVanshika Mago, BBA studentWith three consecutive days off from college, my mother asked me to do some public good and make my time purposeful. I searched on Google with the phrase “public service near me” and ended up signing up for this TOI activity (workshop). I couldn’t have found a better way to fulfil my mother’s wishesSamarth M, class 10 student, NPS RajajinagarGlad to be part of the plogging activity at RBI Layout Park-2 and help in cumulatively collecting 10 large bags of plastic waste. It’s our duty to keep Bengaluru as clean as it’s supposed to be, and preserve the city’s green spacesDS Siddalingaswamy, secretary, RBI Layout Welfare AssociationThe RBI Layout parks are among the cleanest in Bengaluru because our association regularly organises community plog runs and clears out trash. Having clean and green parks provides essential oxygen and serves as a natural space for both children and older generations to walk and enjoy nature. We must all take responsibility as citizens to keep our city clean by avoiding littering and ensuring our parks remain pristine
