City youth is PETA India’s Volunteer of the Year
PRAYAGRAJ: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has named Sangam city youth Ayan Banerjee as its ‘2020 Volunteer of the Year’ while commemorating International Volunteer Day (December 5).
Eighteen-year-old Ayan, a resident of Tagore Town locality of Prayagraj, is son of a businessman Somit
Banerjee. He is a BA student (social science and public policy) at OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat. He is a vegan and became a PETA India volunteer two years ago. Since then, he has shown dedication in working to inform young people about animal rights.
“He has visited schools such as Bal Bharti School in Prayagraj and Wynberg Allen School in Mussoorie to give talks to students about the benefits of vegan eating. In collaboration with the Allahabad Museum, Ayan took part in a 200-kilometre run from Lucknow to Prayagraj—visiting numerous colleges along the way including Rae Bareli and Paratapgarh, distributing leaflets, and spreading the word about vegan eating.
He helped staff at PETA India’s stall at the vegan Ahimsa Yoga and Music Festival in January 2020 and took part in a PETA India street theatre-style demonstration in Prayagraj that encouraged onlookers to consider adopting a lovable Indian dog from the streets or an animal shelter instead of buying one,” reads PETA India’s statement issued on Thursday.
And that’s not all!
Ayan has also cycled 45 km on the World Environment Day to raise awareness about the carbon footprint of eating meat and dairy. He had distributed 2,000 saplings in schools and hospitals also. Ayan has also been a speaker for UN75 Children’s Forum— United Nations global Conversation initiative in getting people to talk and act on ways to tackle challenges we face and build a better future for all.
During the pandemic, he has rallied students to join PETA Youth’s online webinar on vegan eating. He’s taken part in various PETA India missions –a vegan cooking challenge and a Friendship Day activity motivating the public to adopt animals – and encouraged friends to do likewise. Ayan also uses social media to spread awareness of animal rights and feeds community dogs and cats.
When he’s not holding outreach activities for PETA Youth, he’s encouraging fellow students to conduct virtual Compassionate Citizen workshops. Compassionate Citizen is PETA India’s awardwinning humane education programme designed to instil empathy for animals in
AYAN, A RESIDENT OF TAGORE TOWN, IS A BA STUDENT (SOCIAL SCIENCE AND PUBLIC POLICY) AT OP JINDAL GLOBAL UNIVERSITY, SONIPAT
children aged 8 to 12.
“I am honoured to be chosen ‘2020 Volunteer of the Year’ by PETA India. I received the certificate from PETA
India CEO Dr Manilal Valliyate only on Friday. I plan to now work on the mission to promote vegan lifestyle and world free of animal cruelty with reinvigorated spirit,” said Ayan.