The context to develop an understanding about the holistic and inter related existence of humankind with the eco system:

Today, our world is on the brink of destruction and if we don't ACT NOW we would be committing global suicide.  Environmental education and understanding will make us aware about the environmental problems that are looming over our heads and will equip us with knowledge to overcome these

problems.

Children and young people, who are the future of tomorrow, have a critical role to play in making this world a better place to live in.  They can act only if they understand why environmental problems arise and how they should be tackled.  Environmental education will sensitise them towards their environment and develop in them necessary skills and attitudes to work together and individually for better man-nature relationship.

In our country, environment has been accorded a very high place in the scheme of things.  Our poets, philosophers and saints have always emphasized that human beings can find happiness only by living in harmony with nature. But, with the leaps that science has taken in the modern times, and coupled with man's greed for power, prosperity and prestige, man has caused untold damage to the environment.  He has used development as a means to exploit nature to its maximum, not caring a bit for the damage it has done and is doing to humanity.  The damage that has been done to the ecosystem and biological diversity is impossible to assess and to reverse.

We have to heed to the voice of ancient wisdom.  People now feel that each one of us has responsibility to save the Mother Earth.  They have realised that progress in science and technology should be in tune with sustainable development.  Emphasis should be laid on rational consumption so that we leave a healthy and joyful life for our future generations. It is in this background that the proposed youth network is being organised by trying to bring together about 40 -50 youth from different parts of the state.  There is an understanding that the monthly meetings and sessions should facilitate their understanding of the environmental and ecological threats relating them to their own life situations.  It should help them to

design their own action programmes. It is going to be a process aimed at developing a group of youth that is aware of and concerned about the total environment and its associated problems and which has the knowledge, attitudes, commitments and skills to work individually and collectively towards the solution of current problems and prevention of new ones.  The participating youths are to develop the following qualities over a period of time.

a) An awareness of the environment and its problems.
b)Basic knowledge and understanding of the environment and its inter-relationship with man.
c)Social values and attitudes which are in harmony with environmental quality.
d)Skills to solve environmental problems.
e)A sense of responsibility and urgency towards the environment so as to ensure appropriate actions to environmental problems.

So the objectives would be - youths are supported in understanding environmental and ecological issues relating to their life situations and to support to think of alternatives and possible actions in promoting the alternatives.