From Training 200+ Women To Conserving Water And Nature, Sanju Soman Has Done It All For The Welfare Of People And Nature

Mad4Nature By Harshita Singh | 3 min read

welfare

Work done for the welfare of others usually brings a lot of happiness and satisfaction. Some people stay highly motivated to use their knowledge, resources, and skills for the welfare of the less privileged people in society. We all need to be kind towards others. Today’s inspirational story is about a young man, Sanju Soman, who started an NGO named SARSAS for the welfare of others.

Education and Interest in Social Work

Sanju Soman grew up in Saudi Arabia but longed to come to India. He returned to his hometown Adoor in Kerala when he came to class tenth. Later. Sanju pursued his graduation from S.N college. During his college years, he showed interest in helping others. In 2012, during his college years, Sanju started SARSAS. The NGO Sarsas turned out to be one of the largest youth-led NGOs in the capital city.

NGO
Image Source – Facebook

Working For Welfare of Vulnerable Communities

SARSAS works to help cancer patients from vulnerable communities who cannot afford medical treatment on their own. In the past few years, the NGO has managed to raise around Rs 70 lakhs. Sanju mentioned, “I realized that the youth of the country does want to bring a change in the society. Many youngsters are interested in social work but they do not get the right platform to do so. Under SARSAS, we allowed 300 volunteers to join us and contribute to a good social cause.”

education
Image Source – Instagram

Rainwater Harvesting Project

In 2013, Sanju Soman and his team took part in a rainwater harvesting project. In a drought-prone area of Malayinkeezhu, he and his team were successful in installing a rooftop rainwater harvesting system in more than 80 households. Sanju Soman joined the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in 2014 to pursue his post-graduation degree in Climate Change and Sustainability Studies. During that time, the institute also was facing water shortage problems. Sanju Soman, during his second year of post-graduation, solved the water shortage in the institute. He installed a rainwater recharge system on the campus.

Climate change
Image Source – Instagram

Educating People About Climate Change

Sanju Soman joined Ashoka Trust for research in ecology and the environment (ATREE) in 2016 after completing his post-graduation. Sanju trained teachers and students of government schools near the Vembanad Lake in Kerala. He taught the teachers and students about climate change, and the preservation of wetlands, especially the ones they live nearby. For his work, Sanju was chosen as an ambassador by United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network to scale up SDG education in schools. Keeping the environment safe is necessary for the welfare of humans. The welfare of humans lie in protecting and conserving the environment.

Sanju Soman
Image Source – LinkedIn

Wetland Village Model

In 2018, Sanju started a project on developing the first ‘model wetland village’ in Muhamma in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. The aim was to make a wetland village sustainable and self-sufficient. It is for the welfare of people living in the village. For this, the village has to have an alternative livelihood, clean water bodies, reduce plastic pollution, promote sustainable tourism, reduce energy demand and streamline waste management. Sanju with the village Panchayat developed a three-year plan to make the village energy efficient, plastic-free, and also to improve the livelihood of people. The people will leave better lives and the project is still ongoing for the welfare of all.

Wetland Village Model
Image Source – Instagram

Empowering and Supporting Women

Sanju Soman also started a social innovation lab. He has trained over 150 women from fishing communities in upcycling clothes. Sanju worked to make Muhamma the first Synthetic sanitary napkin-free village in the area. In 2018, he started BHAVA, a social initiative that helped 40 women earn 5000 rupees per month. He also launched one of the largest upcycling projects in Kerala and converted 30000 kilograms of cloth waste into usable products.

women empowerment
Image Source – Facebook

SUSTERA Foundation

Sanju Soman also started an NGO named SUSTERA foundation that works for climate change and supports climate entrepreneurs. It works for the welfare of the environment and in the long run the welfare of humans. He trained 15 youngsters who hailed from vulnerable regions under the first Climate Leadership Programme launched in Kerala by Sanju Soman.

SUSTERA Foundation
Image Source – Instagram

Current Work and Interest

Currently, Sanju works with the World Institute of Sustainable Energy. His work incorporates research to understand and facilitate multi-level climate governance in Kerala. Additionally, he also manages his NGOs. He has an interest in the welfare of society and the environment. He tries to manage all his responsibilities for the welfare of society. Mad4India wishes Sanju Soman all the best for all his future endeavors!

inspirational story
Image Source – Instagram

If you loved this story, read a story about how Dr. Vanita Prasad Invented Revy Environmental Wastewater Solutions In A Hospital Bed.

To know more about SUSTERA Foundation, please check – Website, Facebook, and Instagram.

To know more about Sanju Soman, please check – LinkedIn

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