We’re thrilled to share that our Circularity Initiative has reached a new milestone! As part of our commitment to environmental education, we’ve created a series of engaging and informative videos on circularity. These videos are designed to help students understand the principles of a circular economy, promoting sustainability and responsible resource management.
What’s Included in the Videos?
Our videos cover a range of topics, including:
The Linear Economy
Failure of Take-Make-Waste leading to Overconsumption
Introduction to Circularity
The Circular Economy Model
Where to Find the Videos
We’ve made these videos accessible to schools across the country to ensure that students have the resources they need to learn about and engage with circularity. You can find the videos embedded in the following platforms:
Our Official Website: Visit anvituteja.com to access the videos and explore additional resources related to our Circularity Initiative.
School Portals: The videos are also available on several educational platforms, providing easy access for teachers and students.
Social Media/YouTube: Follow us on our social media channels for updates and direct links to the videos.
Introducing Our Circularity Initiative: A New Chapter in Environmental Sustainability
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our Circularity Initiative at Speak Up! Act Now! This new chapter marks a significant step forward in our commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible resource management.
What is Circularity?
Circularity is a transformative approach contrary to ‘take-make-waste’ which instead focuses on creating closed-loop systems where materials are continuously reused, recycled, and repurposed. Unlike traditional linear economies, circularity emphasizes reducing waste, conserving resources, and maintaining the value of products and materials for as long as possible.
Why Circularity Matters
In our rapidly changing world, embracing circularity is essential for addressing the pressing environmental challenges we face. By shifting towards a circular economy, we can:
Reduce Waste: Minimize the amount of waste sent to landfills and decrease the environmental impact of waste disposal.
Conserve Resources: Optimize the use of raw materials and energy, reducing the need for new resources.
Promote Innovation: Encourage creative solutions and new business models that support sustainability and environmental stewardship.
Our Circularity Initiative
Our Circularity Initiative aims to integrate these principles into our programs and educational outreach, empowering students and communities to adopt sustainable practices. Here’s how we plan to make an impact:
Educational Programs: We’re incorporating circularity concepts into our curriculum and workshops, teaching students about sustainable resource management, recycling, and waste reduction. Through interactive sessions and hands-on activities, students will learn how to apply these principles in their daily lives.
Content Creation: We’ve developed accessible content that explains complex topics like “linear economics” and “circularity” in simple language. This material is available for free download and has been shared with hundreds of schools nationwide to ensure widespread access and understanding.
Partnerships and Collaboration: We’re collaborating with organizations like Karo Sambhav to enhance our outreach and impact. By working together, we’re strengthening our efforts to promote circularity and sustainability at a larger scale.
Community Engagement: We’re encouraging students to take the lead in implementing circularity practices within their communities. By creating awareness campaigns, we’re providing the tools and support needed to drive meaningful change.
Quality Control Circles (QCC): Our initiative includes the use of Quality Control Circles (QCC) to involve students in real-world projects that focus on sustainability. By applying the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle, students will work on projects that address local environmental challenges and contribute to a circular economy.
Get Involved
We invite you to join us in this exciting new phase of our journey. Whether you’re a student, educator, or community member, there are numerous ways to get involved:
Educate Yourself: Explore our circularity resources and learn how you can incorporate sustainable practices into your daily life.
Participate: Engage in our workshops and activities designed to promote circularity and environmental stewardship.
Spread the Word: Share our initiative with your network and help raise awareness about the importance of circularity.
Support Our Efforts: Consider donating to support our programs and enable us to reach more students and communities.
Together, we can make a difference and pave the way for a more sustainable future. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to creating a world where every action contributes to a healthier planet.
The Wonder Capsule is more than just an English comprehension and creative writing program; it’s a platform for self-expression and mental wellness. By providing students with a safe space to explore their thoughts and emotions through writing, we enable a deeper understanding of themselves and their mental health.
One example is a student’s work that came through the program, where they shared a poem during a ‘fictional’ backstory exercise. This student’s writing revealed feelings of gloom, isolation, and internal conflict, serving as a poignant reflection of their mental state. The expression in the poem and the narrative about a character named Stellar Stanovick—who encounters violence at home—highlight the underlying issues troubling the student.
Recognizing the significance of these expressions, I recommended that the school investigate further into the child’s well-being. This step ensured that the student received the necessary support, addressing potential challenges that might have gone unnoticed.
Through The Wonder Capsule, students like this one are given a voice—a way to articulate their fears, dreams, and struggles. This initiative doesn’t just teach English; it fosters mental wellness by encouraging students to share and seek help when needed.
The stories and poems written by our students are testaments to the profound impact that creative expression can have on mental health. As we continue to work with students from various backgrounds, we remain committed to using writing as a tool for healing and empowerment, ensuring that every voice is heard and supported.
As I reflect on the journey of Speak Up! Act Now! over the past two years, I am filled with pride and optimism for the future. What started as a small initiative to raise awareness and empower youth has evolved into a powerful changemakers initiative.
Building on a Strong Foundation
The foundation of Speak Up! Act Now! was built on the belief that expression is liberation. Over the past two years, we have stayed true to this belief, encouraging young people to express themselves, engage in social action, and develop leadership skills. Our mission has been to create a platform where every voice can be heard, and I am proud to say that we have made significant strides toward this goal.
Empowering Youth Voices
In 2021, we won the United Nations’ School Champs for Climate Action award, which was a significant milestone for our organization. This recognition served as a catalyst for further growth and inspired us to expand our reach. In 2022, I was lauded as the ‘Young Messiah of Awareness’ by the United Nations. Two years later, we have impacted over 5,000 students from underserved communities through our English communication classes, helping them to express their thoughts and emotions without reservations.
We have enabled this through The Wonder Capsule, a comprehensive 50+ hour training material that introduces various forms of English writing to students all over the country, providing them with a cathartic platform to share their inner fears and feelings.
Expanding Our Reach
I’m pleased to share that I have recently gotten the incredible opportunity to intern with the circularity company Karo Sambhav, which focuses on promoting environmental sustainability through innovative waste management solutions. I hope to advance my understanding of environmental sustainability and circularity, and maybe even incorporate these principles into my work with Speak Up! Act Now!.
First Day as an Intern
Reflection
On a personal level this past year, I’ve faced emotional trauma, witnessing close family members battle severe health issues. These experiences have taken a toll on my mental and emotional well-being, but they have also instilled a desire to help others; I try to use my story to connect with and inspire others facing similar challenges.
Before The Wonder Capsule became a space for young writers to explore their creativity, I began this journey with something just as magical—reading sessions and a postcard-making activity that laid the foundation for what was to come.
These sessions were more than just about reading—they were about connection, expression, and the joy of discovery.
To complement the reading experience, I introduced a postcard-making activity where students could visually express what they had read and felt about their favourite holiday experience.
These sessions were the beginning of something special. They showed me the power of combining creativity with education, and how even simple activities like reading and making postcards could inspire deeper thinking and self-expression. The joy, enthusiasm, and creativity I saw during these sessions became the driving force behind The Wonder Capsule.
September 2022 will forever be etched in my memory as a moment of profound joy and overwhelming pride. Being declared the “Young Messiah of Awareness” by the United Nations feels unimaginable — a recognition that surpasses my wildest expectations.
This recognition is not just a personal milestone; it is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone who has been part of Speak Up! Act Now!—from the students who have bravely shared their voices, to the mentors who have guided me, to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to spread our message. Together, we have shown that young people can indeed make a difference, and this award is a reflection of our shared commitment to creating a better world.
This recognition is not just a personal milestone; it is a testament to the collective efforts of everyone who has been part of Speak Up! Act Now!—from the students who have bravely shared their voices, to the mentors who have guided me, to the volunteers who have worked tirelessly to spread our message. Together, we have shown that young people can indeed make a difference, and this award is a reflection of our shared commitment to creating a better world.
Being called the “Young Messiah of Awareness” by an organization as prestigious as the United Nations is both humbling and motivating. It serves as a reminder of the responsibility that comes with such a title. I am more determined than ever to continue raising awareness about critical issues like climate change, environmental sustainability, and social justice. This recognition fuels my passion to keep pushing boundaries, inspiring others, and leading by example.
To everyone who has been part of this journey, thank you. Your support, encouragement, and belief in me have made this possible. To the young changemakers out there, this recognition is as much yours as it is mine. Together, let us continue to speak up, act now, and create a future where every voice is heard, and every action counts.
Thank you, United Nations, for this incredible honour. I promise to carry the title of “Young Messiah of Awareness” with pride, humility, and a relentless drive to continue the work we have started.
Global Perspective Human Stories India: Teen champions of climate action UNIC-India-The competition was organised to highlight inspiring children, promote their work and inspire other children and parents to take climate action. 7 August 2022Climate and environment The United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in India launched a campaign on climate action among school children in March 2022. The campaign took entries on climate action by school students from classes 6 to 12, and among them, top-ranking students in different class categories were awarded prizes.
The Young Messiah of Awareness Anvi Tuteja, awardee in the Class IX and X category, launched a website called ‘IMPACTFUL ACTIONS SPEAK UP!’ to spread awareness on climate change on social media. She says, “I believe that ‘speaking up’ is the most powerful action because it ties all the other actions together. The most important feature of my blog is the ‘Lead-by-Example’ section, where I showcase my own changes and actions in my home, society and school to actually bring about change and bring about concrete change.”
It’s great to be writing on my blog again and I’m completely aware that I haven’t been posting new content in an incredibly long time. My exams, projects, and volunteer work has just been piling up but I promise a LOT of work from here on out.
On that note, I’m pleased to present to y’all the WONDER CAPSULE! Recently, I decided to conduct a writing workshop with SHISHU MANDIR and VIDYA SCHOOL, wherein I shared some of my own writing knowledge with the students through online meetings.
I am delighted to share with everyone the brilliant work of all of my new friends. I hope you give them the hope and encouragement they so rightly deserve for ALL of their effort. And lastly, I hope you enjoy reading their work as much as I did, and will continue to give them your support, just like you have been supporting me for all this time.
Imagery: A brick cottage in the suburbs; Pouring rain; The buttery glow of the street lamps…
Wickedness is all around us. There are people, many people who have committed sin. This evil makes the surroundings gloomy. Don’t compare yourself to others, and move a step forward. Even if there is darkness, you still have the strength to light up yourself, your house and your surroundings. It will make you more visible to others. Thus, the old man looked outside of his own bright house and was content with his selfless goodness.
The sun is rising, leaving the darkness beyond. The vibrant ones are becoming more visible. The real beauty of nature is giving us the hope to move forward. The sunrise is giving us the hope to move forward. The sunrise is giving us strength to reach the peak.
Thoughts Caught 