Khweng Community Leads World Environment Day Celebration, Showcasing Youth Action and Indigenous Stewardship
In observance of World Environment Day 2026, the Khweng Eco Club, in collaboration with NESFAS, organised a community-led celebration at Khweng village, Ri-Bhoi District, Meghalaya, bringing together community members, school children, local leaders, NESFAS team and representatives from the National People’s Party (NPP). The event highlighted the importance of collective action in environmental conservation and sustainable stewardship of natural resources.
The celebration was aligned with this year’s global World Environment Day theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future“, reinforcing the need for communities to work together in protecting and restoring the environment for future generations.
Speaking during the programme, Bah Lastknokhel Jalong, Secretary of Khweng Village, emphasised the shared responsibility of all community members to protect nature. “World Environment Day reminds us that Mother Nature sustains all life. It is our responsibility to work together to restore and protect our forests so that wildlife can thrive and future generations can continue to benefit from nature’s gifts,” he said.
Mr. Pyniarbor Kharshiing, Consultant, NESFAS, reflected on the lessons learned during the COVID-19. “The pandemic showed us how deeply we rely on nature for our survival. Today, more than ever, communities must lead the effort to protect and restore our environment, as they remain the true custodians of our natural resources.” he said.
Delivering her address as Chief Guest, Ms. Naphi Marwein, ex- candidate, National People’s Party (NPP) underscored that environmental protection is a shared responsibility that begins with individual action. She encouraged community members to maintain cleanliness in their surroundings, plant more trees, and make environmental stewardship a part of everyday life rather than limiting it to annual observances. She also expressed appreciation to NESFAS for its continued support to the community and conveyed her hope for stronger collaboration in the future for the betterment of the village.
Participants later took part in a tree plantation drive involving school children and community members. Saplings contributed by NESFAS were used during the activity. The celebration concluded with an Agrobiodiversity (ABD) Walk led by local knowledge holders, who shared stories and traditional ecological knowledge with the students of Khweng Upper Primary School, fostering a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and nature.
At the heart of the celebration was the growing movement of young people in Khweng who have taken an active role in conserving their village’s natural heritage. Through the Khweng Eco Club, local youth have been mobilising community members, raising environmental awareness and creating opportunities for collective action grounded in traditional ecological knowledge.
Formed on June 5, 2025, by a group of young locals concerned about the future of their environment, the Club has become a platform for community-driven conservation. Supported through the Green Hub Small Grant and guided by values and principles of stewardship long nurtured by NESFAS, members regularly organise tree plantation drives, village clean-up campaigns and birdwatching activities.
The initiative was founded by Banteilang Syiem, a Participatory Video Fellow at NESFAS and Green Hub alumnus. Motivated by concerns over the decline of local biodiversity, he envisioned a space where young people could come together to take positive action for their community and environment. Under his leadership, the Club has grown into an active youth-led movement that promotes biodiversity conservation while strengthening connections between generations. Since its inception, the Club has expanded beyond conservation activities to include initiatives that support youth leadership and community engagement.
Reflecting on the journey of the Club, Banteilang Syiem, Founder of Khweng Eco Club, shared, “I am happy to see the active participation of the community in today’s programme. It is encouraging to witness young people taking an interest in environmental conservation, and I hope this inspires more youth to become involved in protecting nature and caring for our village.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ms Novaliza Sakra, President of the Khweng Eco Club, highlighted the importance of nature in sustaining community life. “World Environment Day reminds us of the vital role nature plays in our lives. It sustains us, provides us with clean air, and continues to be the source of life and well-being for our communities,” she expressed.
Students who participated in the programme also expressed enthusiasm about learning from the day’s activities. “I am happy to join the World Environment Day programme. I learned about different plants and why it is important to take care of nature. I enjoyed learning new things today,” shared Hamedahun Lamare, school children, Khweng U.P. School.
“I am happy to celebrate World Environment Day and plant trees in our school garden. We will continue to plant and care for more trees in the future,” shared Ibaniohlang Nongrum, school children, Khweng U.P. School.
Communities from Mawstep, Laitsohpliah, Ladmawphlang, and Nongwah also observed World Environment Day through tree plantation activities, contributing to local efforts to protect and restore the environment.
The World Environment Day celebration in Khweng demonstrated how local communities, youth groups and knowledge holders can work together to protect biodiversity and strengthen environmental stewardship. Through initiatives such as the Khweng Eco Club, grassroots action continues to play an important role in building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.
