A young lady on a mission to save Ashtamudi Lake

S Aparna, a resident of Munroe Thuruthu in Kollam, is engaged in a sincere effort to save the heavily polluted Ashtamudi Lake. As part of her activities to free the lake of garbage, she is organizing a unique event on March 22, World Water Day.

The 23-year-old BEd student promises that she would train participants at the event to convert several waste materials floating in the lake into beautiful items which can adorn any home.

Aparna is already a star on the social media thanks to her decopatch creations on discarded liquor bottles. She picks up the bottles from the roadsides and other places on way to college and back on which she unleashes her creativity with numerous colours. Aparna later sells her art objects on Facebook.

"I get most number of bottles from the banks of the Ashtamudi, which has turned into the biggest garbage dump in the area. The aim of the event to be held on March 22 is to collect all discarded items which can be recycled from Ashtamudi Lake and convert them into useful objects. Bottles and other similar materials will be turned into attractive things on that day itself," explains the enterprising lady.

However, Aparna realizes that every object that is thrown into the lake cannot be turned into a useful item. "But we have to do what we can," she feels.

Aparna often faces curious enquiries regarding how she gets hold of such a large number of bottles. To which her response is, "Attend the March 22 event and you will learn everything."

Any person can take part in Aparna's programme. She will teach you how to convert a discarded item into something new. On the sidelines, Aparna is planning to hold a discussion on ways to reduce waste and related topics.

As part of the event, a sale of the new objects created from waste by the participants will be organized on the banks of the Ashtamudi.