Waste Warriors inspire youth with project YUWA initiatives

Waste Warriors, a non-profit organization dedicated to addressing waste mismanagement in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, has launched Project YUWA (Youth United for Waste and Climate Action) in the Dehradun Valley to empower youth as environmental leaders.

For over a decade, Waste Warriors has implemented waste management systems in remote Himalayan areas. The organization has recently ramped up its efforts by engaging local schools and universities. Notably, students from Shri Ram Centennial School participated in a clean-up drive at Shiwalik Chowk, Dehradun, collecting 92 kilograms of waste, demonstrating the impact of youth-led initiatives.

Launched in 2023, Project YUWA aims to cultivate environmental responsibility among youth through initiatives like Ecolympics, a competition for college students, and Green Gurukul for school students. The project has facilitated over 20,346 waste and climate actions, engaging 50 educational institutions and 844 young participants in upcycling initiatives and awareness campaigns.

Doon University students showcased their upcycled plastic products at a recent awareness session on plastic pollution, highlighting the creativity and commitment of youth in environmental conservation. Participants like Riya, Kiran, Shubham, and Prashant engaged in activities like adopting cleanup stretches, conducting awareness sessions about single-use plastics, and crafting reusable cloth and newspaper bags for their communities.

Students from Doon University established a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (RRR) center to collect used textiles, shoes, and other items for donation, amplifying their impact.

Waste Warriors measures success beyond waste data; it lies in nurturing a conservationist mindset among youth. The Ecolympics initiative has altered participants’ interactions with waste, transforming litter collection into an instinctive responsibility. Riya expressed optimism about the future, stating, “Choti-choti safaltayein hasil kar lete hai, toh badi safaltayein bhi dur nahi lagti hai,” which translates to, “If we achieve small successes, then big successes don’t seem far away.”

As these young individuals become torchbearers for sustainable practices, Waste Warriors is paving the way.