Mainstreaming conservation has always been at the heart of HEAL’s mission. We believe that shaping a sustainable future begins with empowering the young minds of today — the changemakers of tomorrow.

It is with this belief that we partnered with the prestigious St. Xavier’s College (Autonomous), Kolkata, and welcomed the first batch of students from diverse academic streams for internships with HEAL.

Eleven Xavier’s students from varied disciplines — Sociology, Physics, Political Science, and English — completed a 30-hour internship with us. They contributed to initiatives on Human–Snake Conflict Mitigation in the Sundarbans, Wild Carnivore Conservation & Pangolin Research, and creative communication through blogs and social media.

Watching them engage with on-ground conservation challenges and bring fresh, interdisciplinary perspectives was truly inspiring. Their enthusiasm reaffirmed our faith in the next generation’s capacity to lead with empathy, guided by science and creativity.

At the conclusion of the internship, the students were felicitated with certificates, recognising their dedication and valuable contribution to HEAL’s conservation work.

We remain grateful to St. Xavier’s College for walking alongside us in this shared mission of nurturing the next generation of environmental stewards.