Submitted
Three Carmel Clay School students attended the first Youth Climate Action Day event at the Statehouse on Wednesday, Jan. 29. They met with state legislators and they discussed their position on the changing climate and shared their advocacy for conservation and environment.
As Carmel residents and young activists for the planet and wildlife, Leo, Vedh and Sid applaud our local leaders’ efforts to help create a more sustainable future.
The students were very excited to learn when speaking to State Representative Donna Schaibley and Senator JD Ford that both support environmental action, conserving our natural resources, and believe education is an important step to take towards assessing the problem. They both thanked the students for their efforts through Helping Ninjas to create environmental awareness and educational outreach to the community and local youth.
Helping Ninjas is a Carmel-based not-for-profit whose mission is to inspire youth to help the planet, each other and oneself. Leo Berry, a fourth-grader at College Wood Elementary, created and founded Helping Ninjas in 2018 alongside his family and friends – Vedh Barre, a fifth-grader at College Wood Elementary, and Siddarth Chavalli, seventh-grader at Creekside Middle School.
Helping Ninjas helped to achieve the removal of plastic straws and plastic cutlery initiative in Carmel Clay Schools, installed CCS’s first on-site organic café garden and most recently sponsored a cafeteria compost-pilot currently happening in the Carmel High School main café.
Leo, Vedh, Sid and their fellow Helping Ninjas have helped promote sustainability by implementing initiatives such as Kids Compost and Stand Up For Our Planet. Youth-led projects include a total land restoration/pollinator garden at Founders Park, a Native Bee Hut Project at Cool Creek Nature Center and Helping Ninja Clubs at CCS Parks and Recreation Extended Enrichment Programs, all helping to inspire Carmel youth to help the planet and each other.
For more information, visit helpingninjas.com.