Environmental Champion of the Earth Visits MMERC to Raise Environmental Awareness

By: Arshad Ansari

Mumbai____ today on 7th October 2025 , a team of Adv. Afroz Shah, the UN Awardee – Champion of the Earth, visited Markazul Ma’arif Education and Research Centre (MMERC), Jogeshwari West, Mumbai to raise awareness about the environment before the students, as the team is currently visiting different institutions.

The program started with the recitation of the Glorious Qur’an by Maul. Arshad Ansari followed by a beautiful Naat presented by Maul. Hasnain Rabbani. Then Mr. Santosh Shah and Mr. Arbaz Khan, volunteers of team Afroz Shah, introduced Adv. Afroz Shah and his mission briefly. It was also cleared that the mission has completed 540 weeks since the beach clean-up operation began. A video chronicling the journey of the first 181 weeks was also visualized.

Mr. Faizal, another volunteer of the team, recalled that MMERC was the first institute to join their mission in the early days. He further said that Adv. Afroz Shah got inspiration and motivation to introduce such a vulnerable mission from the Glorious Qur’an. He further added that whoever reads, understands and acts upon the Qur’an wholeheartedly will always be away from filth and will keep oneself and society pure. He mentioned some of the immediate and other disadvantages of using plastics and then urged the assembled people not to use single-use plastic items unless it becomes absolutely necessary, and persuaded everyone to carry their own bag and bottle.

Mr. Sachin explained seven types of plastics, showing their samples (PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and other types), which include both recyclable and non-recyclable plastics. “We use plastics, but at the same time, we harm not only ourselves but also other species and the environment. Therefore, we should only use necessary and harmless plastics (for instance: chairs, mobile covers, and so on),” he added.
Finally, the in-charge of MMERC, Maul. Atiqur Rahman Qasmi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to Adv. Afroz Shah and specially his team for visiting the institute and organizing such an informative program.

(The writer Arshad Ansari is an Alim and 2nd Year  Student of MMERC, Mumbai )