It was on the propitious occasion of Anti Apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela’s birthday on Friday that the All India Football Federation (AIFF) chose to play hosts to a bunch of school kids who had come with the noble idea of planting trees in tune with their ‘Clean India, Green India, Beautiful India’ campaign.

As if paying tribute to Madiba who besides his fight against South African apartheid was a staunch flag bearer for climate change, Indian football’s Governing Body welcomed the initiative wholeheartedly inviting Ryan International School in Vasant Kunj, South of Delhi to come and plant tress in the premises with the aim of ‘Each one Plant One’.

Speaking on behalf of the children and the initiative, school teacher Sindhu George said: “This year we have a plan to launch a nationwide tree plantation campaign with an aim to plant over 1.2 billion saplings throughout the country.”

“It has been a wonderful experience coming to AIFF and the grand reception and hospitality that we have received is peerless. I thank AIFF on behalf of the school and we wish to take this forward in the future.

“Football is an integral part of school curriculum and I can tell you that my children were very excited to come here. They are thrilled and don’t want to go back to school,” she added.

Lt. Col. (Retd.) Brij Mohan Mehta, Assistant General Secretary & Head of Administration AIFF in his welcome note said. “It’s a nice gesture from the Principal & Staff of Ryan International to select AIFF Football House as one of the location for their Tree Plantation drive.”

“I am sure the initiative by Students of Ryan International Vasant Kunj will help in improving the ecology in the area. There could have been no better occasion with monsoon active in Delhi during the ‘Van Mahotsava’ period. I assure that AIFF will take due care of the trees planted by the Children.”

(Report & Picture courtesy AIFF Media)