Today we’d like to introduce you to Sanjana Satagopan.

Hi Sanjana, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

I run an environmental nonprofit called EcoLearning Together which works with the United Nations Environmental Program, but I’m also a college student studying computer science! I run it with my friend from middle and high school (we still go to the same college though)!

When I was in middle school, I was forced to take an environmental science class with my friends. I thought there was nothing more to environmentalism than simply recycling, composting even. But my teacher, she taught us with so much passion that I almost felt bad about not caring before. And its not like she just taught about plants and animals (though those are important), she taught us about how injustices and discrimination impact and intersect with climate change. She taught us about climate inequality and how different groups are affected by the crisis in different ways.

I never thought about how problems intersect in our lives like that, and immediately wanted to make a change. However, there was one problem, as a middle schooler going into high school, nonprofits didn’t really want anyone who had no experience. When I applied to various nonprofits, I got rejected at every single one of them. Never got a chance to show them that I wanted to make change.

And this happens with youth throughout the world. A lot of them don’t get to share their voice, or feel like they can’t, even though the youth are the future. We are the generation going to deal with the climate crisis, and going to deal with a lot of these issues that have been bubbling up.

So I decided to start my own thing, and I never would have thought it would have worked out. I mean, it started as an ugly pink blog to educate youth on environmentalism and sides of environmental activism they may have never learned. Then it grew with more youth, and we refined the mission to do hands on work in restoration and education with schools!

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

It’s definitely not been a smooth road, and that’s expected! The first big challenge was definitely getting youth involved in a nonprofit that was new and ran by non-professionals, but just youth caring about the climate crisis. The next challenge was actually getting support and funding! Lots of larger organizations or companies were more aprehensive about funding a nonprofit led by students, but if anything that brings our nonprofit power.

Then of course, there were the legal things and not many 16 year olds naturally know how to do taxes!

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?

EcoLearning Together (EcoLearners) is a youth led environmental nonprofit that works on environmental education and hands on restoration throughout the world. Our goal is to encourage and get youth involved in environmental activism, especially those who are often left out of climate activism or are impacted the most by climate change. We work throughout the world with schools, universities, and other organizations, and are partnered with the United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration!

What do you like and dislike about the city?

I live in Seattle, Washington, and I generally really like it. However, I really do wish we had better public transportation (our current one is not the best), but I love how nature is super integrated with everything in Washington.
In general, I feel like to create more sustainable cities, having better public transportation is a must, but also finding ways to incorporate urban restoration. Like small parks, or trees on sides of the roads – those all add up.

Pricing:

• There’s no pricing specifically, but we are always taking donations!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ecolearners.org
• Instagram: eco.learners on insta or sanjanaxms
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecolearningtogether/