At 11000 Feet In Himalayas, 14-YO Picked Up The Trash Everyone Else Ignored

Jan 14, 2026, 07:00 PM

From a snow-kissed shrine to school corridors in Meerut, Sawan’s journey is powered by one idea: if you can see the mess, you can fix it. And it all started when he was just 14.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia/YT

In Class IX, Sawan saw taps running carelessly. While others walked past, he spoke up — ignored at first, until a science teacher spotted his spark and gave him the school assembly stage.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia/FB

That short speech on saving water changed the atmosphere. Taps were shut. Friends paid attention. And in that quiet shift, a bigger purpose was born.

With a few classmates and a strong sense of duty, Sawan founded the Environment Club — a student idea that soon became a youth movement powered by action.

Photo Credit : ecghaziabad/IG

In ten years, it reached 800+ schools, teaching water wisdom, placing earthen pots for birds, and urging communities to choose nature over plastic and Chinese manjha.

Photo Credit : ecghaziabad/IG

In 2022, the world recognised his work with the Earth Day Hero Award. But for Sawan, the real prize was seeing habits change and streets grow cleaner.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia, Environment/YT

Recently, his journey led him to Budha Madhyamaheshwar. The Chaukhamba peaks stood majestic. The air felt sacred. But the ground was littered with plastic bottles and wrappers.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia/YT

Not as a tourist, but as a caretaker, he put on his Environment Club T-shirt and began a silent clean-up, carrying the waste down the 1.5 km trail to a temple dustbin.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia/FB

You don’t need a club or a title to start. Just care. Carry your waste back. Pick up one extra piece. Be the reason a place stays beautiful.

Photo Credit : Sawan Kanojia/FB