Two months of relentless efforts and countless discussions with various stakeholders have culminated in a momentous occasion. Today, the Sustainability Leaders' program was officially inaugurated by none other than Ms. Aashika Jain, Deputy Commissioner and Chairperson of the District Environment Committee in SAS Nagar, Punjab. The ceremony was graced by the presence of Sh. Damanjeet Singh, in-charge of the Urban Local bodies of district Mohali, and Smt. Ginni Duggal, the District Education Officer. It's a moment of pride and fulfilment for me.
As I feel happy with the success of this endeavor, Simultaneously I find myself on the verge of completing the final leg of the CBSE's National online program for student internships, the 'Sustainability Accelerator.' This incredible journey commenced on the 23rd of May, 2023, and saw students passionately engage in mission-driven challenges, submit assignments, and acquire an array of new skills. The challenges were multifaceted, involving tasks such as identifying sustainability issues, responding to questionnaires, brainstorming innovative solutions – both high-tech and low-tech, creating websites, crafting narratives, delivering presentations, recording speeches, and pitching proposals, among other things.
Starting with a cohort of around 10,000 enthusiastic students, a mere 100 of us advanced to the program's next phase after four weeks. The competition intensified, demanding more of our time and skills. We were tasked with designing prototype solutions for our identified problems, conducting cost-benefit analyses, constructing business model canvases, and mapping out ecosystems while identifying stakeholders and their roles. We also had to assess the viability and potential impact of our proposed solutions. After another gruelling four weeks, I was elated to be among the top 25 students selected to move on to the subsequent stage.
This stage involved conducting user studies to witness the true power and impact of our solutions. We engaged in user surveys, usability evaluations, and interviews, which eventually led me to compile a comprehensive research paper.
Throughout this journey, my chosen focus area of study was 'Solid Waste Management.' It was during this process that the concept for a 'Sustainability Leaders Program' for students was born – a program designed to ignite creativity and innovation in students while providing them with hands-on exposure to the real-world challenges of sustainability. I specifically honed in on the critical issue of waste segregation at its source for sustainable urban living.
Over the past few days, I dedicated myself to crafting the contents of the program's website. My elder sister, Khushi, an undergraduate student of computer science at UBC, Vancouver, lent her expertise to design the registration form for aspiring students. Today, this visionary program takes flight in the Mohali district, targeting the involvement of 1000 students from various schools. I am truly thrilled and eager to share my learnings with my peers. This is only the beginning of a journey toward a more sustainable future, and I couldn't be more excited to embark on it.
Best wishes to your endeavours😍