Sankalp Mohan Sharma, a youth leader and environmental activist from Bengaluru fighting for sustainability, founded the Sachh Foundation two years ago when he was 18.

Sankalp has presented numerous speeches around the globe on his work, sustainable development, climate change, water conservation, human rights, and gender equality, and he also spoke for TEDx in February 2019. Since 2014, Sankalp has been working to develop himself into a professional changemaker. In high school, he joined two clubs focused on the environment due to his curiosity about climate change. He started listening to Tedx talks and signed up for online climate reality projects to expand his knowledge about what was impacting the climate and the planet. His curiosity also led him to organize recycling workshops at school and clean up trash after school.

He was interested in how the youth could mobilize audiences and come up with innovative solutions, so he created the Sachh Foundation to start a worldwide campaign implemented by young leaders working towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals by the UN. His goal is to expand this network around the globe and build the largest youth network to lead this campaign.

He built the Sachh Foundation with representatives from other countries. In the past two years, the Sachh Foundation has expanded to several countries including Nepal, Nigeria, Senegal, Haiti, Peru, and Malawi. Each country has a team that uses a centralized process of carrying out planned activities and reach others in other cities and localities to build larger and stronger teams.

Sankalp has attended and represented India at several global summits and conferences. These include the 2016 Climate Reality Leadership Training Program in Texas, USA, the 2017 International Youth Fellowship Leadership Camp in South Korea, the 2017 United Nations Summer Youth Assembly in New York, and the 2018 Global International Teen Conference in Nepal.

His idea is that the youth are the most important generation in leading the fight for sustainability and climate change mitigation. Young leaders around the world have a powerful voice and can bring a positive impact on social issues and international development.

"As young kids, the biggest gift we possess is the gift of having a free mind. As we grow older, we start accepting facts, instead of understanding them, which is what we truly wanted to do as kids. This ability to question everything around us, question stereotypes, clichés, and common habits is what helps us innovate the best solutions to global problems.

Together, the youth can save our planet and make it more sustainable for the future."

Sankalp has won many awards for his work such as the Akhil Uday Award, Aryan Young Achiever Award, and National Society of High School Scholars Honor by Mr. Claes Nobel. He was also invited by Former United States President Barack Obama to represent the youth at a personal town hall and discuss the future of working with the foundation and youth of India jointly.

Sankalp is supported by his father Sandeep Kumar Sharma, former defense personnel, and mother Chhavi Sharma, a motivational speaker. Sankalp and the Sachh Foundation are also mentored by a panel consisting of Mr. Ramesh Balasundaram (Director of Bal Utsav), Mr. Sridhar Pabbisety (Social Activist), and Mr. Aditya Pundir (Branch Manager at Climate Reality Project India).