Malik Asghar Hashmi/New Delhi

In India, the number of women working on environmental protection and climate change can be counted on fingers. Among these emerging changemakers is Hina Saifi from Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh. Coming from a small village, Hina has earned recognition across the country for her tireless efforts to raise awareness about environmental conservation and climate change.

The 25-year-old, who completed her MBA from a reputed institution in Meerut, recalls that in the beginning her mission seemed almost impossible. But gradually more people joined her cause, and the movement continued to grow. Today, her organization has established a distinct identity across India.

Hina Saifi, a resident of Sisola village in Meerut district, has been included among the 17 young climate leaders of India selected for the United Nations India’s campaign #WeTheChangeNow.

She has become one of the prominent faces of this global initiative. The campaign aims to showcase grassroots solutions developed by young environmentalists across India to the world. Since 2018, Hina has been associated with major initiatives such as the 100% Uttar Pradesh Campaign and The Climate Agenda.

Hina firmly believes that if society becomes environmentally conscious, nature can be restored and protected to a great extent. However, this is only possible when ordinary citizens adopt climate-friendly habits and practical lifestyle changes. This conviction inspired her to make community mobilization and environmental awareness her life’s mission.

She was inspired to act after witnessing the deteriorating conditions in her own village. She observed increasing air pollution and a widespread lack of environmental awareness among the people.

She realized that changing everyday behaviour required sustained grassroots engagement. To achieve this, she and her team organize “Marches for Clean Air,” distribute pamphlets in villages, conduct public meetings, and personally visit households to carry out environmental surveys.

Hina strongly advocates the use of solar-powered technologies as a long-term solution to air pollution. She has actively campaigned for the installation of solar pumps in rural areas and solar panels on community buildings. These grassroots efforts contribute significantly to India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under global climate commitments.

India has set an ambitious target of increasing the share of non-fossil fuel energy sources, including solar energy, to 40 percent of its total energy capacity by 2030. Hina currently carries out her activities in collaboration with a local NGO in Meerut called N Block.

In the fight against climate change, Hina is joined by 16 other young climate champions from across the country. Together, they share their stories of struggle and success on the United Nations platform, inspiring other young people to become part of the movement. These faces of the “We The Change” campaign are helping chart a new path toward climate justice and environmental protection.

The campaign has also received praise from actress Dia Mirza, who serves as an Advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals appointed by the UN Secretary-General. Dia Mirza has said that the stories of Hina and her fellow climate champions deeply inspired her and could motivate many others to contribute to environmental protection.

According to the UN Resident Coordinator in India, the campaign encourages people to adopt innovative and practical approaches to combating the climate crisis. It also inspires state governments and local communities to take meaningful action while celebrating sustainable, nature-friendly innovations led by young people.

Hina’s personal journey is equally inspiring. Sisola village had only a government school up to Class VIII. Her parents were initially reluctant to send her outside the village for further studies. At a crucial moment, her mother supported her aspirations and sent her to live with an aunt in Khatauli, where she completed her secondary education. Completing higher secondary education was another challenge, but Mukesh Kumar of the N Block organization convinced her family to allow her to attend college.

The economic conditions in Sisola were difficult. Most men worked in stone quarries, while women and children worked in local football manufacturing units, earning as little as ₹20 for stitching a football. Poverty had made child labor commonplace. Hina herself was advised to discontinue her education after Class VIII, but she remained determined. To support her studies, she worked part-time in a football factory.

Growing up in such conditions made her acutely aware of the link between education, poverty, and environmental degradation. She saw garbage dumped into ponds and rivers or burned in the open. The village lacked adequate sanitation facilities, forcing people to practice open defecation, while drains remained clogged with waste. Hina realized that meaningful change would begin with education. Together with her teachers, she visited homes and persuaded parents to send their children to school.

In 2018, Hina became the first girl from her village to attend an environmental workshop in Lucknow. There, she learned about air pollution and the Air Quality Index. Returning home, she organized groups of women and children and formed a special team of 20 girls dedicated to environmental awareness activities in the village. Through the Women Climate Collective, she now raises her voice on both national and international platforms.

Recently, Hina launched a new rural initiative called “Suraj Se Samriddhi” (Prosperity Through the Sun). Through this campaign, she educates villagers about the benefits of off-grid solar energy systems. She also organizes poster-making and speech competitions in schools to nurture environmental awareness among children from an early age. She believes that women play the most crucial role in any social transformation because they are often the first and most directly affected by environmental crises.

Today, thanks to Hina’s efforts, Sisola village has undergone remarkable change. Parents are now more willing to send their daughters to colleges outside the village. The village is cleaner, waste management has improved, and environmental awareness has increased. Hina frequently works with local village leaders to discuss development initiatives and sustainable solutions.

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From a remote and underdeveloped village in Meerut to becoming a recognized voice on a United Nations platform, Hina Saifi’s journey stands as a powerful example for every young girl who dreams of overcoming barriers and creating positive change in society. Her story demonstrates how determination, education, and grassroots action can transform not only individual lives but entire communities.