Schools across the city had participated in the third CYG, ‘Green Games’ programme, Bond Forever, and the opening and closing ceremonies of the youth games. The Green Games programme was aimed at imbibing environmental values and concerns in school children. Students from Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College’s, Community Medicine Department volunteered and conducted workshops to create environmental awareness in schools.

The Bishop’s School has won the award for the CYG Green School as it had a ‘thorough’ approach towards environmental awareness and energy conservation in their school both practically and as a part of their curriculum. KamalNayan Bajaj School was awarded second prize while St. Hilda School secured the third position. While handing over the awards to the principals and representatives of winning schools, MP Suresh Kalmadi said, “School children have contributed a great deal to make Pune known among the Commonwealth Nations. The Bond Forever school programme was one of the most popular aspects of the games. Children from these schools performed flawlessly at the opening and closing ceremonies. I thank all the schools and students for making CYG Pune 2008 a success.”

Under the Bond Forever programme, 71 schools in the city partnered with the participating nations and studied their location, culture, customs and traditions, cuisine, language, history etc. “This friendship between the nations is a bond that will last forever,” said Purnima Pendse, director, culture & ceremonies, CYG Pune 2008.

Principals and students were happy to share their experiences in CYG. Monica Banerjee, head girl of the Bishop’s School, said, “We conducted the programme across the schools educating the students, gardeners and even peons about the importance of environment and energy conservations. It was a great experience”.

Similarly, Nalini Sengupta, principal, Vidya Valley School, said the response of the students to CYG Bond Forever programme was overwhelming. “Our school partnered with the Commonwealth nations of Anguilla and Seychelles. When these contingents visited the school, our students’ reaction was beyond description’’.