Ques. Please give me a brief introduction about yourself.
I am Dwishojoyee Banerjee, born and brought up in Patna, Bihar. I am currently pursuing Economics at Ramjas College, University of Delhi. Since my 10th grade, I have been an advocate trying to work towards climate change, and it was during this journey that I stepped onto an innovative yet impactful path that I am trying to work towards.
As a young individual, I started my own organization- The Soft Movement, which not only encourages people to move from “action talking to action taking” but also transforms people’s relationship with activism. All of my current and future endeavours are dedicated to giving back to society.
Ques. I noticed that you've done quite a lot in the field of climate change like being Climate Action Youth Advocate at UNICEF and having an organization that works towards that cause as well. What sparked your interest in climate change?
Well, what caught my eye for not just climate change but in the field of social work as well was that while everyone addressed the need to prevent climate change, there seemed to be a hesitation to take action. Over the years, I've noticed that efforts were made, but momentum often faded before any actions could take place. If the measures would have come into force so many species of bio-diversities and protests to not cut the forests wouldn’t have gone in vain. All of this sparked my interest in climate change and from then The Soft Movement came into being, whose sole purpose is to go from action talking to action taking- instill a change in people for a better future.
Ques. What further would you like to do with the cause of climate change?
In terms of the organization, we are currently running The Paper-Bag Project wherein we are replacing single-use plastic bags with newspaper bags as an alternative. Our aim is to convince the vegetable and flower vendors to switch from single-use plastic bags to sustainable newspaper bags. The processing of these bags isn't a factory-made approach, instead the people who are eager to bring a change and want to serve the community create these bags. In future, I want to incorporate this with schools, particularly among the government school students who lack knowledge and awareness.
Ques. So, talking about the organization, you founded 'The Soft Movement'. Can you share the story behind its founding?
Earlier, there were no plans to start any organization as I was in 10th grade. In 2020, during lockdown I saw posters of “ban single-use plastic bags” which were put up by the government, despite the police trails in the market vendors continued using plastic bags which caught my attention. Out of frustration, I tried and made 40 newspaper bags ensuring that they are strong and sustainable. When I took those newspaper bags to the vegetable vendor, keeping in mind the needs of the customer, he denied the use of those bags and simply asked me to go to school. Since then, The Soft Movement and Paper-Bag Project came into being to ensure that the bags made are strong and sustainable.
Ques. What have been some challenges in setting it up?
Initially, the vegetable vendors weren’t welcoming. They were unfriendly and avoided talking to us. During my visits to different organizations that were set up to bring about change towards sustainability and climate, I found that they didn’t work as they had portrayed.
The Paper-Bag Project involved a lot of tasks. We need to double or triple the layers of newspaper, boil flowers with water and sugar, and then add adhesives like fevicol. Finally, we place the paper bag into this mixture to strengthen it, which proves to be quite a challenge.
Ques. Can you share more about 'The Soft Movement'? What is it and what does it aim to do?
Initially, the registrations for the Paper-Bag Project were limited to the field of climate change, and I didn’t want to restrict myself to that. Therefore, to broaden the perspective, The Soft Movement was established. The name symbolizes gentle, gradual, and sustainable approach towards making real and lasting change. It is an organization that aims to encourage people to transform from action talking to action taking. It enables students and people who want to give back to the society to come together to create a significant and meaningful impact for a better future.
Ques. You've also been involved with Kahaanighar, an NGO focused on storytelling and children's education, where you now serve as the Director. What motivated you to take part in this initiative?
Kahaanighar was like a cocoon for my journey, as at the age of ten, it made me believe in social work and the power of change. It uses storytelling as a medium to connect with children from slum areas who lack resources in terms of education and awareness. Therefore, the organization aimed to accommodate kids from diverse genres and backgrounds. All of this inspired me to participate in this initiative and give back to society while also growing as an individual.
Ques. So your work has also been recognized through an Achievement called Ashoka Young Changemaker, which is a huge milestone. How did this recognition come about?
In 2021, I had recently started with my Paper-Bag Project, and at Ashoka Young Changemaker, the organization’s fellow members guided me to take a significant step from merely executing projects to establishing an organization. With their guidance, I decided to launch The Soft Movement; without the Ashoka Young Change Maker organization, it wouldn’t have been set up so early.
Ques. As a Research Fellow at YLAC, what were the areas of your research?
I was a Research Fellow at YLAC for about 6 to 8 months, where my fellowship was associated with Instagram and social media. This experience sparked my interest in AIYC, particularly in how emotions are often jeopardized through instant likes and comments on posts. I began to explore user behavior and how emotions are reduced to tiny emoji’s, making people increasingly vulnerable to the impact of these interactions. The research deepened my understanding of the complexities of social media and its effects on emotional well-being.
Ques. As a Fellow at Mercedes Benz AG, how did your experience there shape your perspective on innovation and social change?
Mercedes-Benz AG announced a program called “beVisioneers”, which selects fellows from across India who are actively working towards combating climate change. I was inducted into this program in early 2023, which allowed me to amplify the Paper Bag Project even further. Mercedes, being a luxurious and prominent brand that captures everyone’s attention, launching such a program that emphasizes diversity while encouraging individuals to maintain their unique identities within a specific domain is a significant achievement. This experience has profoundly changed my perspective on innovation and social change.
HIGHLIGHTS:
1) Fellow at Mercedes Benz AG
2) Ashoka Young Changemaker
3) Founder of The Soft Movement
4) Advisory Council Member at World' Economic Forum
5) Climate Action Youth Advocate at UNICEF
6) Research Fellowships at YLAC
7) Youth Advisor at Save the Children
8) Selected as the Youngest UNLEASH Talent from a global pool of 19,000 applicants.
9) Director of Kahaanighar, a social enterprise revolving around storytelling and children's education.
10) Nominated twice and was among the top 5 nominees in the award category named 'Businesslike changemaker' by The Hindu.
11) Felicitated by Nitin Gadkari at Democratic Chakra, the Mahila Saman Award
12) Awarded as Beautiful Indians 2024 issued by Femina and Mama Earth 2024.
13) iVolunteer award by yuwaah and UNICEF
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