Project Jatropha

 

1. Adarsha and Apoorva visited Parivarthana an NGO which works with rural farmers near Hunsur, India to see the work done. (Summer 2007)

2. Adarsha did an extensive research on the biofuel. (July 2006 - Nov 2007)

3. Adarsha came up with the unique idea of introducing Jatropha cultivation in small farmer's land and  convinced Apoorva to join him. (Oct 2007)

4. Adarsha and Apoorva did the initial project planning and connected with Mr. Rajegowda, Secretary of Parivarthana explaining their vision via telephonic conversations with the help of their parents.(Dec 2007)

5. Adarsha and Apoorva cofounded project Jatropha by establishing their first successful collaboration with Parivarthana. (Feb 2008)

6. They  included Labland Biotechs as a primary collaborator. (June 2008)

7.  They conducted meetings and talks in villages to motivate the farmers and Self Help Group (SHG) leaders with the help of Parivarthana staff. ( summer 2008 for Phase I and Dec 2008 for Phase II)

8.   They accomplished the careful selection of the first five SHG leaders to participate in phase I with the help of Parivarthana staff. (August 2008)

9.  They purchased and distributed 1000 high quality seedlings, using cash prize from winning the California State Spelling Bee Championship by Adarsha, to the participants of Phase I with the help of Parivarthana. (Sept 2008)

10. The Farmer leaders planted the seedlings in project site. (Oct 2008)

11.  Adarsha and Apoorva demonstrated the biofuel extraction of 100 kilograms dry Jatropha seeds to interested farmer leaders from three villages near Hunsur in Labland Biotechs facility under the leadership of Mr. Gopalakrishnan, Biofuel consultant. (Dec 2008)

12. A tour of Jatropha plantation and Labland Biotechs facility with the farmer leaders from three villages who showed interest in participating in the Phase II by Adarsha and Apoorva. (Dec 2008)

13.  They facilitated a conference and Q and A session between Labland Biotechs scientists, field workers of Parivarthana and farmer leaders.( Dec 2008)

14. They  presented the project plan to local high schools and Rotary Club near Hunsur area to motivate and educate the youth and public. (Dec 2008)

15.  They held a press conference in Mysore city to spread the news about our project. (Dec 2008)

16. They distributed the biofuel to the participating farmer leaders with the help of Parivarthana staff. (Jan 2009)

17. Farmers ran successful Biofuel tests using their irrigation pumps. (Jan 2009)

18.This marks the successful completion of Phase I. (Dec 2008)

19.They collected funds under Apoorva's leadership from friends and family members for the first installment payment of phase II: $6350. (March 2008-Jan 2009)

20. Adarsha and Apoorva also met the financial obligations for the purchase of 12,000 seedlings from Labland Biotechs (an additional $1500) by connecting with various environmentalists in India with the help of Dr. Anuradha Rajput, a member of the Advisory Committee. (Feb 2009)

21. Callie Roberts joined the team (December 2008).

22. Callie came up with the idea of making the project a nonprofit organization to attract donors (December 2008)

23.  She started working on the web site for the project(Dec 2008)

24. Adarsha and Apoorva accomplished a careful selection of more than 50 SHG leaders from Kirijaji and Thippalapura villages near Hunsur to participate in the second phase with the help of Parivarthana staff. (Feb 2009)

25.They arranged for farmer leaders and Parivarthana field workers to obtain training in the agronomics at Labland Biotechs. (Feb 2009)

26. Adarsha, Callie and Apoorva held project presentation and meetings with local  middle and high schools officials, students, members of city council, environmentalists from several NGOs, and companies for fund raising, collaboration purposes, and to bring awareness of the project. (Dec 2008-ongoing)

27. Adarsha connected with Wasabi Publicity and obtained a presskit247 free of charge.(Mar 2009)

28. The Project Jatropha team won the 2009 Teen4Planet Earth International Gold Service Award(March 2009)

29. Adarsha and Apoorva won the 2009 International Eco Hero award( April 2009)

30. Adarsha and Apoorva helped plant 12,000 Jatropha seedlings for Phase II of Project Jatropha in Thippalapura and Kirijaji Village. (Summer of 2009)

31.  The team has established a successful partnership with Sirona Cares Foundation, an NPO who sponsored our project to attain a nonprofit status. (July 2009)

32. Callie designed the logo for Project Jatropha. (Oct 2009)

33. Callie Launched The Branching Out Movement which is involved in collection of clothing, footwear, books and other essentials for the unfortunate, impoverished kids in Haiti orphanages. (Summer of 2009)

34.Callie has collected clothing, footwear, French and English books. (Summer 2009)

35. She also worked as a swim coach and donated her entire earnings towards buying French books for the children of orphanage in Haiti.

36. Apoorva and Adarsha cofounded Project Teak, a sister project of Project Jatropha in which they have distributed 2000 teak and silver oak plants to the participant farmers   in rural India as an added incentive. (July 2009)

37.Adarsha won 2009 Brower Youth award (June 2009)

38.Adarsha and Apoorva underwent seven day agronomic training in Jatropha cultivation to get a firsthand experience. (July 2009)

39. Adarsha and Apoorva won the 2009 Barron prize for young heroes.(Aug 2009)

40. Adarsha came up with the idea of A Global Call to Youth, a massive tree planting endeavor involving schools from USA, India and Haiti initially and eventually planning to go global. (Summer of 2009)

41. The team has collaborated with Michelle Lacourciere, Executive Director of Sirona Cares Foundation for this venture. (Oct 2009)

42.The team has kick-started the Global Call to Youth by involving three schools in rural India near their project site. They have helped them plant Teak, Pongamia, and Silver Oak in the schools fields. (Summer 2009)