Students from Class V-C at The Shri Ram School in New Delhi took action to reduce the use of polybags in local markets. They made paper bags from newspapers in the classroom. Then in groups of 2-5, they visited neighboring shops and asked shopkeepers to exchange their polybags for the paper bags. Although some shopkeepers initially denied using polybags, they agreed to the exchange once offered paper bags. The students felt proud that their efforts supported the Delhi government's ban on polybag use and substitution with paper bags. They plan to do follow up checks to help bring permanent change.

1. Design For Change 2010 ..the changemakers Students of Class V-C The Shri Ram School, VasantVihar, New Delhi

2. We promoted shopkeepers to use paper bags instead of poly-bags. The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

3. Even after imposing a ban on the use of Poly Bags in the city, most of the shopkeepers are still using these, even in localities like VasantVihar of New Delhi The Shri Ram School, VasantVihar, New Delhi

4. We can make big paper bags with newspapers and distribute in our neighbouring markets. Also we can collect the poly bags from these shops and send these for recycling. The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

5. We got newspaper from our homes and made paper bags in our classrooms. Each one of us made quite a few and thus we had plenty of these. The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

6. Then the entire class of 30 children got divided into groups of two and approached the neighbouring markets of our school. The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

7. In smaller groups of five, each group went into different shops. We interacted with the shopkeepers and asked them if they had poly bags. Although they all first denied having these, but when we offered our paper bags to them they were ready to give back their poly bags in exchange. The Shri Ram School, VasantVihar, New Delhi

8. Though we had made paper bags earlier for many personal / other causes in school, it was ‘different’ this time! We ourselves felt as instrumental sources in being partners to the drive of the Delhi Government trying to implement a complete ‘NO’ to the usage of poly bags and substituting it with paper bags. We have decided to follow this up intermittently as surprise checks to both the markets and supplying the paper bags from our side to bring a permanent change.. The Shri Ram School, Vasant Vihar, New Delhi

9. Teachers : Ms. Jasleen Chopra, Ms. Surbhi Rajpal & Ms. Jyoti Roy The Shri Ram School, VasantVihar, New Delhi