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Uttranka Environment Conservation Foundation

Growing a Greener,
Better World

A registered NGO from Indore turning empathy into environmental action — tree plantations, cleanups and awareness across 10 cities and 3 countries.

Explore Our Work Our Story →
100+
Trees Planted
10
Cities
50+
Volunteers
150+
Pledges
Uttranka Foundation Logo
Changemakers
Changemakers
Opportunities for Growth
🌍 Online Campaign

Join Our Environmental Pledge

Commit to small daily actions — use less water, reduce waste, plant a tree. 150+ people have already pledged.

Takes just 10 seconds of your time.

150+
Pledges Taken
Take the Pledge →

Protect the Environment

Championing eco-conscious lifestyles and reducing pollution through direct grassroots action.

Restore Nature

Reviving urban green spaces through community-led tree planting and conservation.

Reconnect Communities

Inspiring people through education and citizen engagement to become guardians of nature.

Tree plantation Indore
2025
Year Founded
Our Story

Born from Empathy,
Built for the Planet

The Uttranka Environment Conservation Foundation began with a simple belief: ordinary people, when moved by empathy and purpose, can create extraordinary change. Founded in Indore, Madhya Pradesh in 2025, we started as a small group who refused to look away from the environmental challenges around them.

"Uttranka" — in Sanskrit, means one who has crossed over; a being of higher wisdom and consciousness. We chose this name to represent our aspiration: a community that has risen above indifference and chosen to act with intention, for the planet and for each other.

From Indore, we've grown to touch 10 cities across India and partner internationally in Myanmar and Kazakhstan — planting trees, organising cleanups, and building a movement of changemakers.

Read Our Full Story →
What Drives Us

Our Mission & Vision

Two guiding stars that shape every decision, every campaign, and every seed we plant.

Mission

Empathy into Action

To turn empathy into environmental action through community conservation, education, innovation, and citizen engagement. Every person has the power to contribute — we create the pathways.

Vision

Harmony Between People & Nature

A world where people and nature live in harmony — guided by compassion, sustainability, and shared responsibility. Communities that are not just environmentally aware, but environmentally active.

What We Stand For

Our Core Values

Five principles that guide how we work, lead, and grow together.

🤝

Unity

Collective action is more powerful than individual effort. Together we plant forests.

💚

Compassion

Empathy is our starting point. We care deeply for the planet and every living being.

⚖️

Integrity

Full transparency and accountability — in our finances, commitments, and actions.

💡

Innovation

Creative, scalable solutions to environmental challenges — embracing new ideas boldly.

🌱

Sustainability

Every action measured by its long-term effect on the world we leave behind.

Uttranka Environmental Initiative

One Person. One Tree. One Responsibility.

Our programs on the ground bring tree plantation, environmental clean-ups and awareness together under one shared responsibility. Three core pillars rooted in grassroots action, community participation, and real impact.

01

🌳 Tree Plantation Drives

Organised plantation events across Indore, Jodhpur, Hyderabad, Bhopal, Bengaluru, Chhindwara, Khargone, Gurgaon, Yangon (Myanmar), and Shymkent (Kazakhstan).

02

♻️ Trash Collection Campaigns

Mobilising neighbourhoods to clean up public spaces and streets. Raising awareness among shopkeepers about waste reduction and responsible disposal.

03

📢 Awareness & Education

Nursery training, community workshops, and an online pledge campaign with 150+ signups — each one committed to daily environmental action.

See the initiative in action →Explore our impact →Take the environmental pledge →
Our Reach

Where We Have Worked

From Madhya Pradesh to Myanmar — here's where our community has taken action.

Part of One Person. One Tree. One Responsibility.

🇮🇳

Indore

Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Community cleanup campaigns
  • Environmental awareness workshops
🇮🇳

Bhopal

Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Community awareness
🇮🇳

Chhindwara

Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Local volunteer mobilisation
🇮🇳

Khargone

Madhya Pradesh, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Community participation
🇮🇳

Hyderabad

Telangana, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Volunteer-led campaigns
🇮🇳

Bengaluru

Karnataka, India
  • Tree plantation — Tavarekere Park
  • Trash collection drives
  • Shopkeeper awareness campaign
🇮🇳

Jodhpur & Gurgaon

Rajasthan & Haryana, India
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Community participation
🇲🇲

Yangon

Myanmar
  • Nursery plantation training
  • Trash collection with NextGen Impact
  • Seedling care workshops
🇰🇿

Shymkent

Kazakhstan
  • Tree plantation drives
  • Environmental awareness
A Platform by The Uttranka Foundation

Where Ambition
Meets Purpose

Changemakers connects students and early-career professionals with internships, fellowships, skill-building workshops, and mentorship that create real impact.

Internships & Fellowships

Curated opportunities with NGOs, startups, and impact organisations.

Skill-Building Workshops

Live sessions on leadership, sustainability, and professional development.

Mentorship & Networking

Connect with professionals shaping the future of impact-driven careers.

📸 Instagram ✈️ Telegram 💼 LinkedIn 🌐 Website Email ChangemakersYouTube ↗
Changemakers

Open Opportunities

Apply Now

🌿 Environment · Open

Environmental Advocacy Intern

Work with our campaigns team on awareness programs across central India.

📊 Research · Open

Impact Research Fellow

Measure and communicate our environmental impact through data and storytelling.

🎨 Creative · Open

Creative Media Volunteer

Design graphics, shoot reels, and craft content that inspires thousands.

Explore All Opportunities →
Changemakers Leadership

Kevin Joseph

Program Director — Changemakers

Vice President, Uttranka Foundation →
Community Learning

Changemakers Webinar

Learning together through Changemakers

25+attendees

Participant feedback indicated that attendees found the webinar useful and helpful.

Ask about upcoming sessions →
Changemakers webinar screenshot showing participants in an online group session
A moment from the Changemakers webinar.
Our Impact So Far

Small Steps, Real Change

Every number represents a story — a tree planted, a community engaged, a future protected.

Part of One Person. One Tree. One Responsibility.

100+

Trees Planted

10

Cities Reached

50+

Volunteers

150+

Pledge Signups

The People Behind It

Founding Team

The people who started this journey — united by one goal: protecting nature and empowering the next generation.

TS

Tejas Singh

Founder & President
Oversees all operations and strategy. The driving force behind Uttranka's vision.
LinkedIn
PG

Pratham Goyal

General Secretary
Managed daily activities and ensured smooth execution of all projects.
AS

Ankit Sao

Director, Volunteer Affairs
Handled documentation, volunteer coordination and meeting management.
LinkedIn
KJ

Kevin Joseph

Vice President
Offered strategic advice, mentorship and expert insights that shaped our direction.
LinkedIn
AG

Ayushi Gahlod

Treasurer & Finance
Responsible for budgeting, accounting and maintaining financial transparency.
LinkedIn
AJ

Dr. Aditya Jain

Joint Secretary
Supported leadership, driving coordination for a greener tomorrow.
SG

Shourya Gahlod

Director
Crafted compelling visuals that communicated our mission and inspired action.
HP

Dr. Hemang Prajapat

Director
Supported the organisation through active participation and advocacy for nature.
Guidance & Perspective

Our Advisors

Meet the founders supporting Uttranka in an advisory capacity.

Yimei Zhang, advisor to The Uttranka Foundation

Yimei Zhang

Advisor

Singapore Management University student and founder of Clarity Technologies and Scan.eats.

SMU Changemaker Award recipientRecognised for exceptional leadership, initiative and positive impact within the SMU community.
Xinyi Shen, advisor to The Uttranka Foundation

Xinyi Shen

Advisor

Singapore Management University student and founder of EachOtter and Artistry Heals.

Our Partners

Collaborations

Building bridges with organisations that share our commitment to youth, sustainability, and global impact.

UN-Registered Youth NGO

NextGen Impact (NGI)

A UN-registered youth-led NGO founded in Myanmar in 2020, NextGen Impact empowers young people through leadership, mentorship, and skill-building while fostering collaboration on the SDGs. Operating across Asia and Africa, NGI drives youth development — including nursery plantation training and trash collection drives run jointly with The Uttranka Foundation in Yangon.

Global Network

Membership

SDSN Youth Member logo

Member Organization of SDSN Youth since 2025.

Knowledge & Awareness

From Our Blog

Thoughts on environment, sustainability, and the small actions that create big change.

The Uttranka Journal

Ideas you can put into practice.

Eight in-depth guides on planting, tree care, clean-ups and everyday environmental action.

Explore the journal →
01
Tree Plantation · India

Why Planting One Tree Still Matters in 2025

A single mature tree absorbs up to 22 kg of CO₂ per year, provides shade that reduces urban heat islands, and supports entire ecosystems. Our plantation drives show that when communities come together, even one afternoon adds dozens of saplings. You don't need a forest — you need one tree, planted today, cared for tomorrow.

Environmental Action🌳 NGO Indore
Read the related practical guide →
02
Waste Reduction · Urban India

The Hidden Cost of Plastic in Indian Cities

Every day, Indian cities generate over 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste. Our Bengaluru campaigns revealed how quickly streets accumulate waste when no one takes ownership. When shopkeepers understand that litter harms the whole community, behaviour changes. Small campaigns run by ordinary people shift culture faster than policy alone.

Waste & Cleanliness♻️ Environmental NGO
Read the related practical guide →
03
Water Conservation · Daily Life

10 Simple Ways to Use Less Water Every Day

India is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world. Turn off the tap while brushing. Use a bucket instead of a shower. Fix that dripping tap. These choices, made daily, save thousands of litres collectively. Water conservation doesn't require investment, only intention.

Water Conservation💧 Sustainability India
Read the related practical guide →
04
Volunteering · NGO India

What Happens When You Volunteer for an Environmental NGO

Volunteering means getting your hands in soil, meeting people from different backgrounds, and watching something you planted grow over months. It means learning about local ecosystems, building friendships, and developing a sense of responsibility that doesn't switch off when you go home.

Volunteer India🤝 NGO Madhya Pradesh
Read the related practical guide →
05
Climate · Awareness

Climate Change Is Local — Here's What It Looks Like in Indore

Indore is experiencing hotter summers, erratic monsoons, and shrinking green cover. Urban heat islands formed by concrete are making neighbourhoods measurably warmer. Tree cover is one of the most effective and affordable counter-measures. Environmental awareness starts with understanding what's happening in your own backyard.

Climate Awareness🌡️ Environmental NGO India
Read the related practical guide →
06
Sustainability · Lifestyle

Sustainable Living on a Student Budget in India

The most impactful sustainable habits cost nothing. Carrying a water bottle. Refusing single-use plastic at street food stalls. Using both sides of paper. Choosing public transport. These choices, made daily by students and young professionals, collectively reduce India's carbon footprint more than any corporate initiative.

Student Sustainability🌱 Green Living India
Read the related practical guide →
07
Tree Care · Urban Green

How to Care for a Newly Planted Sapling

Planting a tree is only half the work — the first two years are critical. A newly planted sapling needs watering every 2-3 days, protection from trampling, and occasional weeding. Most plantation drives fail not from poor planting, but from zero follow-up. If there's a neglected sapling near you, water it. Tag us when you do.

Tree Plantation India🌿 Urban Greening
Read the related practical guide →
08
Youth · Environment India

Why India's Youth Are Leading the Environmental Movement

Across Indore, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Jodhpur, it's young people showing up to plant trees and collect trash — not because someone told them to, but because they understand what's at stake. Platforms like Changemakers channel this energy into structured opportunities for impact careers.

Youth NGO India💚 Changemakers
Read the related practical guide →
09
Biodiversity · Nature

Native Trees vs Exotic Plants: What Should We Be Planting?

Native species — Neem, Peepal, Bargad, Arjuna — have co-evolved with local ecosystems for thousands of years and support far more biodiversity. When planning plantation drives in Madhya Pradesh, choosing native species over exotic ones makes every sapling exponentially more valuable to the environment.

Biodiversity India🌳 Tree Plantation MP
Read the related practical guide →
10
Community · India

Why Community Action Beats Individual Effort Every Time

When 10 people plant trees in the same park, those trees form a micro-ecosystem supporting far more life than 10 isolated saplings. When a neighbourhood collectively stops littering, the norm shifts for everyone. We don't just ask individuals to act — we create the community around the action.

Community NGO India🤝 Environmental Action
Read the related practical guide →
11
Global · India · Myanmar

What We Learned Running Campaigns in 3 Countries

In Yangon, nursery training worked best. In Bengaluru, shopkeeper-facing campaigns shifted behaviour visibly. In Madhya Pradesh, family plantation drives created lasting attachment to saplings. Context matters. Community matters. Results follow both.

International NGO🌍 Environmental Campaign
Read the related practical guide →
12
Pledge Campaign · Action

150 People Pledged to Act — Here's What They Committed To

Our online pledge campaign has crossed 150 signups — each one committed to at least one small daily environmental action. Plant a tree. Use less water. Reduce single-use plastic. These habits, multiplied across 150 households, represent thousands of micro-improvements to India's environmental health every single day.

Environmental Pledge India🌱 Sustainability Campaign
Read the related practical guide →
Take Action

Join the Movement

There are many ways to contribute — find your path to making a real difference.

🙋

Volunteer With Us

Show up on the ground — plant trees, clean neighbourhoods, and directly shape the change you want to see. No experience required, just heart.

Sign Up →
🤝

Partner & Collaborate

Are you an organisation, college, or company? Let's collaborate on events, awareness campaigns, or Changemakers programs together.

Get In Touch →
🌱

Take the Pledge

Commit to one small daily environmental action. Join 150+ people who have already pledged to make a difference every single day.

Sign the Pledge →

Ready to Be a Changemaker?

Whether you're planting a tree or building your career in impact — every step counts.

Volunteer Today Take the Pledge
Get In Touch

Let's Build a Greener Future Together

Whether you want to volunteer, collaborate, or simply learn more — we'd love to hear from you.

📧
General Enquiries
theuttrankafoundation@gmail.com
🙋
Volunteer & Community
communityoutreachuttranka@gmail.com
📍
Base Location
Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
🌍
Cities We Have Worked In
Indore · Bhopal · Hyderabad · Bengaluru · Chhindwara · Khargone · Jodhpur · Gurgaon · Yangon · Shymkent
📸 Instagram 💼 LinkedIn

Reach Us Directly

✉️
General & Partnership
theuttrankafoundation@gmail.com
🤝
Volunteer & Outreach
communityoutreachuttranka@gmail.com
Changemakers Platform
📸
Instagram
@changemakers.uttranka
✈️
Telegram
t.me/changemakers_uttranka
💼
LinkedIn
Changemakers on LinkedIn
🌐
Website
Changemakers Platform
Changemakers Email
changemakers.uttranka@gmail.com
Changemakers YouTube
@changemakers.uttranka