HIGHLIGHT OF THE MONTH
LBTC Triumphs in the Namma Bengaluru Challenge
Wrapping Up the Year with a Sustainable Victory!
Namma Bengaluru Challenge for Sustainable Waste Management
On the night of 13th December 2024, Let's Be The Change (LBTC) celebrated a remarkable milestone—emerging as one of the winners of the Namma Bengaluru Challenge 2024 for our Sustainable Waste Management Project!
The Namma Bengaluru Challenge, launched by Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath, is an inspiring initiative encouraging Bengaluru's problem-solvers to pitch practical, innovative, and scalable ideas that can make life better in our city. With a total grant of ₹50 lakh, the challenge empowers changemakers to turn their visions into reality. Shortlisted projects receive funding to implement their solutions, paving the way for a brighter future for Bengaluru.
We are immensely grateful for the support from WTFund and UnboxingBLR, whose backing has fueled our mission for a cleaner and greener Bengaluru. A special thanks to Prashanth Prakash and Nikhil Kamath for creating this incredible platform to drive meaningful change.
Our success is also a testament to the collaborative efforts of our amazing partners, including Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), NSRCEL, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Intel Technologies India, Esper, OSB India Private Limited, Wipro Foundation, Goodera, and many more. We deeply appreciate the guidance of our mentors, the dedication of our volunteers, and the unwavering belief of our supporters. This win strengthens our resolve to continue working tirelessly towards a Clean Bengaluru and, ultimately, a Clean India.
Watch our winning journey in this exclusive YouTube Premiere. Together, we can shape a sustainable future for our city and inspire others to join this movement.
Project Repurpose - OSB India:
Project Repurpose continues to make steady progress as community women craft products like jeans pouches and tote bags. While their dedication is commendable, the lack of tailoring machines at their home has limited their ability to work at full capacity. To address this, we are exploring ways to support them further and are also reaching out to tailors in need of orders. Through this initiative, we aim to not only create sustainable products but also empower local tailors by providing them with opportunities for income generation.
As part of the project, we hosted a Home Composting Workshop at the OSB Campus, attended by 10 enthusiastic employees. The workshop provided hands-on experience in composting, covering essential techniques and tips. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive:
“Got interested in composting.”
“Learned deep insights about home composting and how to handle challenges.”
“Different types of composting were explained well, and it was inspiring to see pictures from the facilitator's personal experience.”
However, some participants suggested including visual videos showcasing the different stages of composting to enhance future sessions. We’re excited to incorporate this feedback into our upcoming workshops to make them even more impactful.
Transforming Schools Through Veeraru Engagement – Esper:
This year, Esper has stepped forward to support a government school by enhancing its infrastructure and upskilling its students through our Veeraru course on Solid Waste Management (SWM). After an extensive search for a suitable school where the Headmaster (HM) demonstrated a strong commitment to creating a low-waste campus, we selected the Government Model Primary School, Konanakunte.
The school faced significant challenges with water connections in restrooms, leading to maintenance issues. Through this project, we aim to address these problems while also providing internet facilities for the next two years to support digital learning.
As part of the Veeraru program, we formed an Eco Club with 21 enthusiastic students from 5th to 7th grade. The journey began with a knowledge check, followed by engaging activities like playing our SWM game, which enhanced their understanding of waste segregation. The students also learned composting techniques and showcased their creativity by making bags from old or torn t-shirts.
Additionally, on Esper Pledge Day 5th of December 2024, we hosted a session at the Esper office to brief employees about the impact of last year’s collaboration and share updates on this year’s school transformation project.
Through this initiative, we aim to empower students with the knowledge and skills to become environmental champions while creating a sustainable learning environment.
Presenting at BBMP’s Climate Action Cell (CAC):
We recently had the opportunity to present our work on Sustainable Waste Management in Urban Poor Settlements at the BBMP’s Climate Action Cell (CAC).
The Climate Action Cell, established in February 2024, plays a pivotal role in implementing the Bengaluru Climate Action Plan (BCAP) through a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach. Headed by the Special Commissioner of the Forest, Environment, and Climate Change (FECC) wing of BBMP, the CAC includes representatives from various stakeholder departments.
The session, chaired by IAS Smt. Preethi Gehlot, brought together several prominent NGOs, including Swasti, Alli Serona, ESAF Foundation, Sus-Pot, KReate and Bpac, all working towards the betterment of Bengaluru.
During our presentation, we highlighted the importance of sustainable waste management in urban poor settlements and sought support from the CAC for the necessary permissions to implement our project across Bengaluru. We’re optimistic about their feedback and look forward to collaborating with the CAC to drive impactful change
Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) – Bosch:
SWM in the Community
The Namma Swachha Adugodi (NSA) project officially commenced with a stakeholder meeting on 6th December. Attendees included key representatives such as the AGM of BSWML: Ms. Shashikala, AEE: Ravi Kumar, Ward Marshal: Subramani, Junior Health Inspector: Manjunath, PK Supervisor: Gangadhar & Annappa, Waste Collection Contractor: Venkatesh, Link Worker: Prema, Bosch CSR Team: Mouli, and members from LBTC and Saahas.
The meeting aimed to introduce the project, which will run until March 2027, across 14 blocks in Adugodi ward. Discussions focused on understanding current practices, and challenges, and identifying gaps where support is required.
For the initial phase, until March 2025, LBTC will monitor one block while Saahas oversees two blocks. As part of this collaboration, the LBTC team conducted a training session on 16th December at the Saahas office to guide their team on using the waste audit tracking application.
Additionally, on 29th December, we organized community meetings in the respective wards to provide information about the project and to understand the challenges faced by residents regarding Solid Waste Management (SWM). These meetings fostered dialogue and set the foundation for meaningful community engagement
Both teams conducted baseline surveys this month to assess current practices within the community and a commercial establishment survey to determine the number, type, and waste output of businesses in the area.
Veeraru
The project also integrates the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Course in government schools, aiming to guide them toward earning certifications that support their transformation into Green Schools. We are currently identifying interested schools for this initiative.
Volunteering
To celebrate International Volunteering Day on 5th December, Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) hosted an engaging workshop titled “Know Your Waste”. The session was conducted across three Bosch locations: Koramangala Campus, 360 Business Park (Electronic City), and Adugodi Campus.
This interactive workshop empowered employees and housekeeping staff with practical skills and knowledge for effective waste management, fostering sustainability both at work and in their personal lives.
Church Street Transformation - Unboxing BLR:
Unboxing BLR is a participative and volunteer-driven initiative aimed at redefining Bangalore’s identity through innovative projects and perspectives. As part of this vision, Church Street underwent a significant transformation with a complete refurbishment. However, challenges such as street littering and waste mismanagement persisted, undermining the progress made.
To address these issues, the Unboxing BLR team approached Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) to implement behavior change initiatives targeting street vendors, visitors, and residents of Church Street. On 20th December, we hosted a stakeholder meeting at the MOD Foundation Office on Church Street to introduce the project and discuss existing challenges. While MLA Mr. Haris could not attend in person, he shared his views and extended his best wishes through a video message.
The meeting saw participation from key stakeholders, including Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), street vendors, the Junior Health Inspector, traffic police, the Unboxing BLR team, and the LBTC team. The discussions laid the groundwork for collaborative efforts to promote waste management practices and foster sustainable habits in one of Bangalore’s iconic streets.
Samvada Internships: Partnering for Youth Empowerment
Established in 1992, Samvada is a youth-focused organization dedicated to building a just and inclusive world. It achieves this through a unique amalgamation of five Youth Resource Centres (YRCs), the Baduku Centre for Livelihoods Learning, the Kanaja Youth Research Centre, and the Centre for Youth Promotion and Youth Rights Advocacy. Each unit operates with a specific mandate and dedicated teams, yet the organization’s shared vision fosters continuous learning, synergy, and a holistic approach across all initiatives.
As part of their course, five interns from Samvada have joined Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) for a three-month internship. To welcome them, we organized an orientation program on 11th December 2024 to introduce them to our vision, ongoing projects, and impactful initiatives.
We are excited to officially have them on board starting 2nd January 2025 and look forward to their contributions toward creating a cleaner, more sustainable Bengaluru.
V V Puram Food Street Transformation:
After the successful refurbishment of VV Puram Food Street by MOD Foundation, the problem of street littering and waste mismanagement continued to hinder the progress of the transformation. To address these issues, MOD Foundation approached Let’s Be The Change (LBTC) to implement a behavioral change initiative aimed at educating street vendors, visitors, and residents on proper waste management practices.
On 13th December 2024, a meeting was held with Shri. HR Shivakumar, KAS, JC, BBMP South Zone to discuss and obtain approval for this project. Following the approval, a stakeholder meeting will be organized at the food street to engage all relevant parties in creating a sustainable and clean environment.
Both MOD Foundation and LBTC are jointly seeking funding for this project to make a lasting impact on the cleanliness and waste management practices at VV Puram Food Street.
If you are interested in learning more about this project or wish to contribute, please feel free to reach out to us.
Newsletter Quest:
Guess the Location
Can you identify this spot from the pictures below? 🧐✨
Clue: These snapshots are from one of our initiatives featured above.
Be the first to submit and get featured in our next newsletter! Send your answer to +91 93532 18818.
Erudition Time:
Understanding Plastic Liners
Did you know? Using plastic liners for your bins is not eco-friendly, even if they claim to be biodegradable. But how can you check if they truly are?
Here’s a simple test:🔥 Burn Test
If the plastic liner turns to ashes upon burning, it is biodegradable.
If it melts into a sticky residue, it’s non-biodegradable.
Tip: Avoid plastic liners altogether for a sustainable lifestyle! 🌍
Do you use Plastic Liner for your dustbins?
Yes
No
Sometime
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