Instilling Stewardship Through Student-Led Environmental Action

By Marcia Banks

The concept of stewardship—caring for and protecting our environment—is essential to fostering a sustainable future. For several years, a young student, Anaya Chavda, has exemplified this principle by organizing an annual cleanup along the shores of Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), inspiring friends, family, and community members to help preserve the natural beauty of our local shores.

Anaya’s initiative began as a simple effort to address pollution along the lake. Each year, she dedicates a day to gathering volunteers for a community cleanup along Lac Léman. This past June, I joined the event and had people thanking me for the effort. I explained that this was all organized by a young student just a short walk away. Inspired, others joined in and found Anaya, eager to lend a hand.

Each year, the amount of collected waste decreases, a testament to the positive impact of her work. By guiding volunteers in collecting litter, Anaya raises awareness about the effects of plastic, microplastics, and other pollutants on marine life and local ecosystems, proving that small, consistent actions can drive meaningful change.

Anaya’s dedication is a powerful example of stewardship in action and offers educators a unique opportunity to encourage similar responsibility among students. By integrating hands-on projects like hers, educators can inspire young people to take ownership of their environment and understand their role in its protection. Anaya reminds us that students are not only learning—they are actively shaping a better world.

Anaya Chavda’s website on Geneva Beach Cleanup https://www.genevabeachcleanup.ch