The more Savannah Sadaiappen researched, the more she learned. The more she learned, the more she felt compelled to help.
Currently a senior at Destrehan High School, Sadaiappen joined the Wetlands Watchers during her middle school days at Harry Hurst. It made her familiar with the efforts to save the wetlands from coastal erosion, and when it came time to begin her senior project at Destrehan, addressing that issue proved a natural fit.
Sadaiappen has become a full-fledged activist these days. As part of her project, she made and sold T-Shirts designed to raise awareness for environmental protection in Louisiana. “I decided I wanted to do something important,” she said.
“Through Wetlands Watchers, I really learned how important the wetlands are. Through the research I’ve done, I saw how much land we’re going to lose if nothing is done, so I really wanted to bring attention and support to the cause.”
The shirts cost $10 and each feature art designed by Sadaiappen’s friend and fellow Destrehan student Cole Grishop.
The front features an image of Earth with the words, “There is no Planet B.” The back.” A drawing of Louisiana depicting the land in green and the encroaching Gulf of Mexico in blue decorates the back. All funds raised will benefit the Louisiana Wildlife Federation, which will put the collected money toward a project of its choosing.
She makes a compelling argument. Louisiana is home to 40 percent of the nation’s wetlands. According to studies, the state loses nearly a football field’s worth of land every hour due to erosion. Not only is land being lost, but if nothing is done, sources of income will be curtailed or lost as well. The loss of wetlands jeopardizes a large percentage of American seafood production.
“So many people are going to be deprived of that source of income,” she said. “A lot of the things we benefit from, we’ll lose.”
Sadaiappen said she became interested in becoming an activist in the eighth grade, initially through volunteering with the Wetlands Watchers.
“My science teacher, (Barry Guillot) was our Wetlands Watcher sponsor, and he focused on those kinds of things,” she said.
Her T-shirts have nearly sold out. As of Monday, she said just three of the 50 produced shirts were unsold, though she notes that more can be ordered were interest to persist.
She designed the look of the shirts, and credited Grishop with doing a masterful job of bringing her vision to life.
“I’m artistically challenged, so I wouldn’t have dreamed of trying to draw it myself,” she said. “I asked my friend (Grishop) to help. He’s a talented art student and he was more than happy to help. They came out exactly like I’d imagined.”
She also said feedback has been exceedingly positive. “It’s been pretty great. It’s gotten a lot of attention,” Sadaiappen said. “One man contacted me and told me he’d donate $100 to the cause.
It’s been really rewarding. I’m proud of what I’ve done, but at the same time, there’s still a lot left that I want to do to help.”
Anyone interested in purchasing a shirt may call (504) 327-0659 or email savannahsadaiappen@yahoo.com.
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