www.parisar.org

Parisar is executing a project that aims to build awareness about the role, relevance and importance of cycling as a means of transport among different classes of citizens. As part of this, it has created a kit to build awareness among school going children and has used this kit to reach out to children in two schools. It has also created a plan for reaching out to corporators (elected councillors) of the PMC and will be executing this plan soon. These activities are being undertaken as part of a project funded by I-CE.

As part of its school outreach activity, Parisar created a kit that included the following:

• A questionnaire asking school students about their commuting habits, in particular whether they cycle to school or not, and reasons for doing so.  
• A questionnaire asking parents of school students about their attitudes towards cycling and the conditions under which they would be happy to let their children cycle.
• Screening of the 15 minute I-CE film on cycling friendly cities and a presentation on the role and importance of cycling. Both the film and the presentation are to be shown in either English or Marathi, depending on the medium of instruction in the school.
• A set of posters explaining the importance of cycling to be given to the school, which the school would display on its noticeboard. 
• A charter to support cycling and cycling related activities that would be signed by the school.
• A small booklet explaining do's and don'ts of cycling in Pune, and a badge to promote cycling. These were given away to each student.
• A letter to the Municipal Commissioner of Pune from the school children asking for safe, comfortable cycling facilities.

Parisar piloted this kit by conducting programs in two schools - Aksharnandan which has Marathi as the medium of instruction, and Abhinav English Medium school. In both schools, the target audience was the high school children (classes 8th, 9th and 10th). Children in both schools participated enthusiastically in the discussion after the presentation. More details of the school kit can be found here.