The narrow lanes of Sarai Sheikh in Chinhat, Lucknow, had always been home to laughter, the echoes of playing children, and the warmth of community life. But for 12-year-old Samreen, something had been bothering her for a long time—a growing waste dump right next to her school. The sight of plastic wrappers, rotting food, and stagnant water filled her with frustration. The air smelled foul, and whenever the wind blew, she and her classmates had to cover their noses.

“कचरा दिन-ब-दिन बढ़ता ही जा रहा है, कोई कुछ क्यों नहीं करता?” Samreen often complained to her friends.

Her frustration turned into hope on January 23, 2025, when the FINISH Mondial team arrived at her school for the Climate Change for Children session. The team members engaged students in an interactive discussion, asking thought-provoking questions about climate change and waste management. The session started with an icebreaking activity—coloring and posters—that instantly captured everyone’s interest. But what struck a chord with Samreen was the conversation about waste segregation and personal responsibility.

“अगर बड़े गंदगी फेंक रहे हैं, तो हमें ही कुछ करना होगा,” she told her classmate Sukanya.

The words of the trainers inspired her. When the team announced a group exercise on waste segregation, Samreen eagerly joined hands with her friends Sukanya, Sneha, Anshika, and Hurjaha from Class 6, along with Priya, Anubhavi, Soni, Najhi, Laxmi, and Jyoti from Class 7, and Shagun, Tabassum, Priyanshi, and Awantika from Class 8. They had one mission—to find a solution to the waste problem in their school and surroundings.

One week later, when the FINISH Mondial team returned for a follow-up session, they were amazed. Samreen and her team had taken the initiative beyond the classroom!

• Created colorful charts on waste segregation and pasted them around the school.
• Designed posters and graphs on climate change and sustainable waste management.
• Spoke to their teachers and convinced them to place two separate bins—one for biodegradable and another for non-biodegradable waste.
• Encouraged other students to stop throwing waste near the school and instead use dustbins properly.

Their Impact & Future Actions:

• Immediate Effect: The waste near the school started reducing as more children began following proper disposal methods.
• Spreading Awareness: Inspired by their initiative, other schools in the area expressed interest in similar programs.
• Long-term Vision: With continued engagement, they plan to take this project to nearby mohallas and talk to families about waste segregation at home.

Samreen’s story proves that a small step can create a ripple effect.  The FINISH Mondial team is now working on:

• Expanding the initiative to other schools in Lucknow.
• Encouraging community participation—engaging parents and local shopkeepers.
• Providing support for local waste collection and segregation units.
• Using digital platforms to share children’s voices and inspire action across different cities.

Little Hands, Big Impact! 

Samreen, once a girl frustrated with her surroundings, is now a climate warrior leading the change. Her story is a testament to how children, when empowered, can drive real transformation in their communities. The journey has just begun, and with more support, these young leaders will shape a cleaner, greener future for everyone