State | Country: India
You Can, a start-up working at the intersection of waste recycling, wellness, and women’s empowerment. Through my initiatives, I promote sustainable waste management, holistic health, and social inclusion. My three arms are:
- ♻️ You Can Creation – Recycles solid waste into home décor, wall hangings, door mats, and jewelry, reducing pollution while creating livelihood opportunities.
- 🧘 You Can Yoga – Promotes movement, breathing, and meditation for physical and mental well-being, reducing medicine dependency and fostering environmental harmony.
- 👩 You Can Secure – Produces affordable sanitary napkins for rural women in Bengal, while also conducting health and hygiene awareness camps.
My work has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Yoga Guru Award 2028 from the Ministry of Sports and a Government of India Award in 2024.
The Problem
India faces overlapping challenges of solid waste management, health awareness, and gender inequality:
- 🗑️ Municipal Solid Waste (MSW): Vast quantities remain untreated, polluting land and water and contributing to climate change.
- 💊 Rising Healthcare Dependency: Poor lifestyle and stress are increasing reliance on medicines, straining both health and resources.
- 🚺 Women’s Health Inequities: Rural women often lack access to affordable, hygienic menstrual products, leading to health risks and social stigma.
You Can addresses these challenges by recycling waste into valuable products, promoting yoga for preventive health, and empowering rural women with safe menstrual products and hygiene education.
Circular Economy Alignment
You Can embodies circular economy values by:
- ♻️ Recycling Waste: Converting discarded solid waste into new products like mats, jewelry, and home décor.
- 🔄 Resource Efficiency: Reducing waste sent to landfills while conserving resources.
- 🌱 Swachh Bharat Mission Alignment: Supporting India’s flagship program by treating MSW through community-led recycling.
- 🧘 Preventive Wellness: Reducing environmental and economic pressures on the medical system through yoga-driven health improvements.
- 👩👩👧 Social Empowerment: Creating women-led production units for sanitary napkins, embedding sustainability and inclusivity.
Impact
🌍 Environmental Impact
- Diverted waste from landfills through recycling into decorative and utility items.
- Promoted resource conservation and awareness about responsible consumption.
👥 Social Impact
- Empowered rural women through You Can Secure, improving menstrual health access.
- Conducted health and hygiene awareness camps, educating women and communities.
- Promoted yoga practices that support holistic health, reducing medicine dependency.
🏆 Recognition
- Awarded the Yoga Guru Award 2028 by the Ministry of Sports.
- Honored with a Government of India Award in 2024 for contributions to sustainability and community empowerment.
You Can demonstrates how diverse initiatives can come together under one mission: creating a healthier planet and empowered communities. By recycling waste, promoting yoga, and supporting women’s health, You Can advances both environmental sustainability and social equity.
This model shows how circular economy practices can be integrated with wellness and social empowerment, multiplying impact across multiple Sustainable Development Goals.
Contact Information
Founder: Sujata Mondal
Organization: YOU CAN
Address: 18 Kalinath Ghosal Road, Ariadaha, Opposite Sunday Club Durga Bedi
Email: sujata.mndl@gmail.com
Phone: +91 97482 26688
Facebook: facebook.com/youcanusers