Bengaluru: More than 200 volunteers came together Saturday to participate in the first activity under #IamBengaluru – Volunteer for Parks, an initiative by The Times of India and presented by Multigen, aimed at encouraging citizens to take an active role in improving the city’s public green spaces.The drive at a BDA park in Banashankari 6th Stage brought together people from different age groups, united by a common goal of making Bengaluru’s parks greener. From students and working professionals to senior citizens, volunteers came together to plant saplings and contribute to the city’s green cover.The inaugural activity was organised in association with NGO partners Adamya Chetana Foundation, Youth for Seva and Women of Wisdom.Tejaswini Ananthkumar, managing trustee of Adamya Chetana, said: “Tree planting should have been done 20 or 50 years ago, but today is the next best time. Bengaluru is losing its green cover, while climate change has made the need more urgent. Initiatives like this are not just about planting trees, but also about nurturing them and building a sense of responsibility. Every person needs around seven trees, and we must work together to make Bengaluru greener. We joined the Times of India initiative because we share the same goal.”The initiative will continue with a larger set of volunteering activities across 14 different locations across the city Sunday, bringing citizens together for community-led efforts to improve neighbourhood parks.Through the #IamBengaluru platform, residents can discover activities, reserve a spot and volunteer. Residents can visit iambengaluru.co.in or scan the QR code to explore park activities and register as volunteers.Quote Boxes:Anil Choudhary, 19, KengeriThis is my first time participating in an initiative like this, and I am excited to be part of it. It’s also fun to participate with my friends in doing something meaningful like this. The planting was a bit hard at first but later it was excitingNagashri BK, 20, BCom final-year student, Adarsh College JayanagarThis is my fourth experience participating in such an activity, and every time I come, I learn something new. I enjoy being involved in initiatives that allow citizens to contribute to their neighbourhoods. I also think it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep Bengaluru greenerPrabhu Kumar HN, 73, retired bank employee, Kalena AgraharaI came across TOI’s initiative to make Bengaluru’s parks greener and decided to participate. I have been taking part in such activities regularly for the past 15 years. I enjoy contributing to the environment and believe it is our responsibility as citizens to help create a cleaner and greener city. I am glad that TOI has taken up this initiativeHarshitha G, Chethan Gowda and Shrihari HR from Vijaya college, JayanagarWe have seen buildings coming up across Bengaluru over the years and have also regularly heard about trees being cut down. We felt that even a small contribution from our side could make a difference, so we decided to come and participate
