HOW WE BEGAN
Green Crusaders is a socio-ecological awareness mission that began on 5th June 1997 in Kolkata, India. Founded by a group of environmentally conscious citizens which included Sowmen Mitter and Amit Kumar Ray among others, this initiative soon developed into a movement advocating for a greener and a cleaner world. Some of its initial activities included organising bicycle rallies to raise awareness about eco-friendly transportation alternatives and cultural programmes aimed at educating locals about climate change issues. The efforts included putting up a fair that catered to individuals of all age groups- a sit and draw competition for children, quiz and debate contests for the youth. The core idea had been to involve the populace in the arena of environmental activism in a creative and perspicuous manner.


THE
ORIGIN

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS
The efforts were reinvigorated in 2015 by a group of youth committed to making a difference to the planet. Supported by students of several Indian universities, Green Crusaders have organised numerous fund collection and donation drives to assist victims of natural disasters such as the Assam Floods 2019, the Kerala Floods of 2018 and Amphan Cyclone in 2020. Besides collaborating with Greenpeace India on organising a Webinar on ‘Eco-Feminism‘; as well as independently curating hosting an event titled Smog Talk with Sudhanva Deshpande. It publishes its annual magazine titled Aarohan (The Ascent), with articles contributed and edited by the young and enthusiastic student volunteers. We are currently involved in implementing a project, setting up schools in the district of Sundarbans in West Bengal. As an organisation channelling the enthusiasm of young changemakers who seek to pursue the vision of creating a just, humane and equitable society, we believe each one of us is ingrained with the capacity to change the world for the better.
