Papermaking Fun for Schoolkids

Students of four schools participated in a unique online papermaking workshop on Saturday 28 April, 2021, conducted by EarthSmiles.net, which gave them the skills to participate in a follow-up contest for the most prolific young papermaker.

MAKING PAPER BY HAND IS A PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS. IT’S ALSO A FANTASTIC WAY TO USE UP YOUR OLD RECEIPTS, SCRAP PAPERS, JUNK MAIL, ETC. YOU WERE ABOUT TO THROW AWAY AND INSTEAD CREATE BEAUTIFUL HANDMADE SHEETS OF PAPER.

The “Fun Papermaking Workshop” was on the Google Meet platform and eager youngsters from Our Lady Queen of the Missions, Loreto House, St Augustine Day School and Shri Shikshayatan School, with some of their mentoring teachers, were ready to log in at the scheduled time of 6:15 p.m.

Nigel O’Brien, host of the EarthUpdated! Show anchored the webinar, and after a brief welcome – and a short introduction to EarthSmiles.net – gave the students a history brief on Paper Making, and also regaled them with amazing facts about paper, and how recycling it is awesome. For instance, the participants learnt that every one ton of paper that is recycled saves about 17 trees, 1,438.5 litres of oil, three cubic yards of landfill space, 4000 kilowatts of energy, and 7000 gallons of water. This represents a 64% energy savings, a 58% water savings, and 60 pounds less of air pollution. Wow.

The students then watched the EarthUpdated show, as it premiered live at 6:30 p.m. on the EarthSmiles.net Facebook page. The show’s Mr. Greenmind section – which give a short eco-friendly DIY each time – was all about making handmade paper at home this time, and this was streamed for the participants to watch; which they did with keen interest, as this would show them the skills they needed to participate in the announced papermaking contest.
After the DIY segment was over, the participants were briefed on the Contest rules and regulations by Nigel. The deadline for the Contest was 2 August 2021, and from about 40 participants, four “Prolific Papermakers” with the most number of papers made, won eco-kits from EarthSmiles.net. Each kit consisted of recycled paper products: a notepad, a paper pen, a bookmark, etc. EarthSmiles.net has delivered eco-friendly prizes to the schools.
Congratulations to contest winners and their schools for their papermaking feats!