Back from India, students premiere film on Himalayan conservation May 30
May 29, 2024 | By Claire Pomer | Harwood Union correspondent
Film poster. Courtesy image
A group of Harwood Union High School students will present their mini-documentary on Himalayan Conservation at the Big Picture Theater in Waitsfield this Thursday, May 30.
The public is invited to this free film screening from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
During their school spring break, April 9-30, a group of Harwood seniors traveled to Northern India for a cultural exchange.
“It’s partially a cultural exchange, to experience another culture and share ours with the students there, but it’s also to create the film about conservation in the Himalayas in collaboration with these students,” said student Rowan Clough.
Harwood students and some of their Indian counterparts pose learn about seasonal flowers during the April student cultural exchange. Courtesy photo
“It’s also a chance to get to see this country that I’ve heard a lot about,” fellow senior Jack Myers added.
The students traveled from Delhi to Chaukori, where the Himalaya Intercollege is located. The partner school for the trip, HIC aims “to make high-quality primary education available to the rural children of the Pithoragarh district.”
The main goal of the trip was to focus on conservation. The Himalayas have a very delicate alpine ecosystem, and as the climate warms, it’s bringing extreme problems – like a longer and more intense wildfire season. “The climate is similar to Vermont,” Clough said, “so to go and make connections about losing snow feels very relevant.”
Janelle Hoskins agreed, saying, “Filming this is less about sharing our story and more about what conservation means to the HIC students.”
The students will present their film and allow time for discussion afterward.
Harwood and Himalaya Intercollege students during their exchange. Courtesy photo
Claire Pomer is a sophomore at Harwood Union High School.