As part of the NIAS Climate Change, Civil Society and Peace (C3SP) initiative in collaboration with GPPAC South Asia, the inaugural workshop of 'The Grass Roots,' the NIAS Youth Network on Climate Change, Civil Society and Peace, was held on 03 June 2026 at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru. During the workshop, young scholars from institutions across India examined the role of civil society organisations (CSOs) in responding to climate change through a poster presentation exercise. As part of this initiative, Glynnis Winona B, an undergraduate student in the Department of International Relations, Peace Studies and Public Policy at St. Joseph's University, Bengaluru, documented the work of VOICE Trust and its Sunday Agriculture School.
This note examines how VOICE Trust is strengthening climate resilience by reconnecting children and young people with sustainable agriculture, ecological knowledge, and environmental stewardship through its Sunday Agriculture School. It highlights how experiential learning, community participation, and the preservation of traditional farming practices can nurture climate-conscious citizens while supporting biodiversity conservation, food security, and sustainable rural livelihoods.
In many parts of Tamil Nadu, agriculture has shaped the way of living. It has been central to Tamil Nadu's rural life. Now, many young people in rural areas prefer to migrate in search of better opportunities, they resulted in a decline in farming knowledge being passed on to the next generation. There are growing concerns regarding the future of sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility. Recognising this gradual shift, VOICE Trust launched the Sunday Agriculture School in 2020 to help children and youth connect with farming, nature, and climate responsibility. Through practical training and community participation, the initiative seeks to preserve traditional ecological knowledge while preparing a new generation to face challenges.
The VOICE Trust was founded in 1985 by A. Gregory and A. Jecintha. They have long worked with rural communities across Tamil Nadu. The organisation believes that environmental wellbeing and community development are closely linked. They also believe that sustainable solutions must emerge from local participation. During the COVID-19 lockdown, when schools remained closed and students spent more time online, the trust saw an opportunity to introduce young people to agriculture. In July 2020, the first batch of 35 students joined the Sunday Agriculture School in Siruganur. The programme offers training sessions to make students familiar with natural farming, home gardening, seed conservation and eco-friendly agricultural practices. Participants learn through working with the soil, plants and farming activities. Students learn to preserve native seeds, turn organic waste into manure, and how sustainable farming practices safeguard the environment and ensure food security. Climate awareness is a part of the programme, enabling participants to understand the connection between agriculture, biodiversity, water conservation and ecological sustainability.
The initiative has continued to grow steadily since its launch. By April 2026, the Sunday Agriculture School had 717 children from 18 villages. Local farmers, parents and community networks also support the programme, creating an environment in which traditional knowledge can be sustained. Students are mentored by eco-farmers in the Iyarkai Velaan Inaiyam network who show how sustainable farming can be profitable as well as environmentally friendly. The school is part of VOICE Trust's wider work on climate action and ecological restoration. The organisation planted over 150,000 native trees through its Tree Planet movement to improve local ecosystems. It also manages hundreds of student environment clubs which encourage young people to participate in conservation activities and environmental awareness campaigns. Together these initiatives demonstrate the organisation's belief that environmental responsibility begins at the community level.
Today the Sunday Agriculture School is a programme which is trying to change perceptions about farming, revive ecological knowledge and encourage young people to see themselves as protectors of the environment. The work of VOICE Trust reflects how civil society organisations build climate resilience through education, participation and local action as climate change continues to affect rural communities.
