First edition of the Green Hub Central India (GHCI) Festival was held in Bhopal on 16-17 July 2022, wherein the Adivasi youth passing out as Green Hub Fellows of the program showcased their films on rural and tribal issues.
A total of 17 rural and tribal students (13 male and 04 female) received their certificates during the 1stconvocation of the Green Hub Central India Festival 2022.Thisannual conservation program integrates the graduation of the fellows and their film screenings to amplify dialogue on sustainable futures through the participation of community youth and eminent personalities from the Government and Non- Government organizations, civil society, youth groups, and others.
Delivering the inaugural address, Pramathesh Ambasta, CEO, BRLF, said, “BRLF is delighted to support the Green Hub Central India program. GHCI Fellows are Adivasi and rural youth of India who are being trained and empowered to tell engaging stories about their habitat and issues through a visual storytelling medium. An important thing to remember is that climate change and environmental degradation are realities today. The Adivasis of central India face the brunt of these changes, and their livelihoods and lives are most severely impacted. The GHCI fellowship offers an opportunity for a division youth to think about these issues and start a discussion amongst themselves and their communities on these issues.”
Addressing the event, Chief Guest, Prof GN Devy, President, Bharat Rural Livelihoods Foundation,appreciated the films made by the Adivasi youth and motivated the GHCI Fellowsin an interactive session and said, "GHCI Fellows are the change-makers of the future in addressing issues of climate change, environment, sustainability, social justice for Adivasi development, and your continued engagement in these areas is necessary. The world needs to hear the stories of Adivasis from their own perspective, which is what Green Hub Central India is enabling with the powerful storytelling medium of films."