River Keepers

Conserve our City’s most important natural resource!

Recent Update

Mission
The Gandhi River Keepers program teaches people to see how the river is not a dump but a magnifcant ecosytem, one that deserves our respect and protection. Picking up debris that has gone untouched for long periods of time allows one to see how even small efforts can improve the environment. Furthermore, by observing how all lifeforms are ultimately connected, it becomes easier to see how our habits impact the surviavability of other species. River Keepers learn how to appreciate the value of hard work, and they become more aware of how they consume and dispose of waste.

Background
The Gandhi River Keepers program began in 2009 as an effort to raise ecological awareness on the University of Rochester campus. The River Keepers collect trash that ordinarily goes unseen by people walking along the banks of the Genessee River. Besides beautifying the natural landscape for the entire community to enjoy, the River Keepers learn ways to connect environmental conservation with the principles of nonviolence.

Get Involved!

I liked the River Keepers event because it brought to my attention how simple acts by individuals such as throwing candy wraps, plastic soda bottles, cigarette remains and plastic bags at the river bank could accumulate into amounts that endanger both the beauty and the life in the river. – Lendsey Achudi (Gandhi Fellow)