B.Ed Students Gain Firsthand Insight into Sustainable Living at Jimmy McGilligan Centre

Students of Environmental Education from the School of Education, Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV), visited the Jimmy McGilligan Centre for Sustainable Development on April 8, gaining practical exposure to eco-friendly and sustainable practices.

The group arrived at the Centre around 10 a.m. and was received by its founder, Dr. Janak Palta McGilligan. During the visit, she shared her life journey and highlighted the work carried out alongside her late husband, Jimmy McGilligan, in promoting sustainable lifestyles and community welfare. Students noted that their initiatives have benefited thousands of families.

The Centre demonstrates a range of sustainable technologies, including solar thermal cooking through solar box cookers and parabolic cookers, which can be used for various cooking methods such as baking and frying. It also employs solar drying techniques for food preservation without electricity. Renewable energy generated through solar panels and a windmill is used to support local infrastructure, including street lighting in Sanawadiya village.

Spread across a green campus with over 300 trees and plants, the Centre serves as a model of self-sufficiency, offering resources such as fruits, vegetables, and a clean environment.

Students described the visit as an enriching educational experience. They said the key takeaway was Dr. McGilligan’s message emphasizing conscious living and personal responsibility toward sustainability.

The visit was organised under the guidance of Head of Department Dr. Laxman Shinde and Dr. Raghavendra Kumar Hurmade, with support from faculty members Dr. Rochana Shukla and Dr. Shraddha Sharma.