Today we’d like to introduce you to Varnik Gill.
Hi Varnik, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I, Varnik Gill, approached Sehej Kumar and Piyush Kumar, my close friends, with the idea of making a greater impact on the environment. After brainstorming, we concluded that creating a non-profit organization would be the best way to get started. This approach would consolidate all of our ideas and enable us to reach a larger audience. I came up with the name by combining the focus on teens’ impact on the environment. I thought of the word “ecosystems” and replaced the ending with “teens.” Our name has received a lot of positive feedback from many people. To reach our current position, we have partnered with Rice Middle School, the City of Carrollton, the City of Coppell, and even the Texas Conservation Alliance. Through collaboration with these institutions, we have successfully undertaken numerous projects, including large cleanup events and the creation of self-filtering water bottle planters. All of our work has required a significant amount of effort and creativity, but these efforts have not been in vain. We have made a substantial impact on our nearby ecosystem, and we hope to continue doing so in the long run.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The odyssey we have embarked on has been anything but smooth, presenting us with significant struggles as a teen-driven non-profit. One of the challenges we faced was the difficulty of raising awareness among a younger demographic and inspiring them to take initiative. Overcoming this obstacle was crucial for our organization as it propelled us towards our goals with increased participation. Limited resources and funding posed additional obstacles, requiring us to think creatively and seek strategic partnerships. We approached local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to secure support and resources. These collaborations not only provided us with the necessary means but also strengthened our network and expanded our reach within the community. Despite the hurdles we faced, we persevered, driven by our unwavering belief in the power of youth and their potential to shape a sustainable future. As we continue on this journey, we remain committed to refining our strategies, adapting to new challenges, and scaling our impact.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As part of Ecosysteens, our mission is to protect the environment by empowering global youth through education, activism, and innovation, with the ultimate goal of preserving the planet for future generations. Our non-profit organization strives to execute our mission statement in various ways, including community cleanups, partnerships with other non-profit organizations, and educating middle schools. These activities allow us to engage with the community face-to-face, enabling us to grow as an organization while informing and actively involving community members in environmental conservation. Our organization specializes in actively making a positive impact on the world from an environmental standpoint. We achieve this primarily by organizing events that promote sustainability, cleanliness, and education. Additionally, we reach out to communities through our various social media platforms. What sets us apart from other non-profits is that our youth-led initiative promotes and inspires other teenagers like us to strive for a mission that is greater than ourselves. The youthful insight that Ecosysteens possesses allows us to expand our influence and positively shape the minds of future generations. One of our proudest moments was when our organization collected over 130 pounds of trash in a single event. This event presented challenges, such as obtaining city approval for the region and some students not participating due to upcoming exams. Despite these setbacks, we were able to overcome and exceed our previous trash collection records by almost twice the weight.
How do you define success?
The concept of success has always been broad and subjective. Each individual, organization, or group has its own definition and approaches to achieving success. For Ecosysteens, our mission is to push for environmental protection and empower youth, with the ultimate goal of preserving the planet. In essence, we concentrate our efforts on harnessing the power of youth to enhance the sustainability of our biosphere for future generations. Ecosysteens was born out of a desire, a dream, and a vision for this kind of success, and through concrete actions, we have been able to work towards it. Though this may still seem like a broad notion, we can shed light on it by adopting a quantitative perspective. By setting metric goals and using measurable indicators, we can track our progress towards achieving our vision of success. For instance, we can measure the pounds of trash collected or the reduction in our carbon footprint, which allows us to gauge our journey towards our desired success. Other factors can also be incorporated within this framework, all contributing to various facets of success. With the support and collaboration of many, we aspire to create positive change for the planet and society as a whole. In our contemporary world, we need visionary goals and actionable tasks driven by the determination to succeed. Together, we strive to overcome our shortcomings and work towards the betterment of humanity. These visions and tasks for success represent hope for our world. Ecosysteens aims high, aspiring to achieve this vision of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: ecosysteens.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecosysteens/
Image Credits
Varnik Gill
