Founded in 1999 by Anshu Gupta in New Delhi, Goonj is a non-profit organization that addresses critical issues like clothing, sanitation, and rural development by repurposing urban waste. With a mission to copyright dignity and equality for underserved communities, Goonj empowers people to become active contributors to their own progress.

Inspired by Gupta’s life-changing encounter with a man named Habib, Goonj was created to spotlight the often-overlooked need for clothing and the dignity it brings. Operating across 23 Indian states, the organization recycles over 6 million kg of materials annually and runs impactful campaigns like Daan Utsav.

Key Initiatives:

• Not Just a Piece of Cloth: Transforms old cloth into sanitary pads, addressing menstrual hygiene.

• Dignity for Work: Encourages rural communities to earn urban materials through community-driven development projects.

Goonj continues to echo the voices of the neglected, transforming charity into dignity-led change.

https://unessafoundation.org/goonj-ngo-transforming-lives-through-community-driven-initiatives-in-india/