2023–24: Laying the Foundation with Hands-On Engagement

In 2023–24, Lending Hands Foundation implemented My Clean City with the support of HCLFoundation across 10 schools, reaching 5,577 students through cumulative participation. The goal: raise awareness about proper waste management and introduce practical 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) activities.

Students participated in interactive sessions, Best Out of Waste activities, wall paintings, doodle art competition, and dry waste collection drives. Each activity helped students understand why managing waste responsibly matters — not just for their school, but for their homes, health, and the environment.

We also introduced the Waste Champions model, encouraging students to take what they learned back home, influencing families and neighborhoods in Noida and Greater Noida. The enthusiastic response laid a strong foundation but also revealed a clear insight: short-term activities weren’t enough. Students needed a structured, ongoing way to deepen their knowledge.

2024–25: Enriching Learning with Lofu & Kofu’s Wonders in Waste

Building on the pilot’s success, the 2024–25 phase expanded to 20 schools with an upgraded approach: a structured, story-based educational book titled Lofu & Kofu’s Wonders in Waste. Lending Hands Foundation implemented this enhanced learning model, again with the support of HCLFoundation.

Instead of dry facts, students now learn through the adventures of Lofu, Kofu, and Mr. Guru, exploring:

• Types of solid waste and decomposition timelines
  
  
• The journey of waste and its impact on nature
  
  
• Plastic pollution and practical solutions
  
  
• The 3Rs — with everyday tips
  
  
• Home composting steps
  
  
• And a new way of seeing “Kuda Daan”
  
  

Every chapter ends with questions and QR code-enabled activities, making learning interactive and measurable. Activities like composting workshops, bio-enzyme making sessions, and visits to Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) deepened students’ hands-on understanding.

Special events like World Cleanup Day, Plastic Bag Free Day, and World Nature Conservation Day connected students with global movements while rooting them in local action.

The result? A clear improvement in students’ knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around waste management. Teachers noted that the story format made complex environmental issues relatable and memorable. Encouraged by this success, Lofu & Kofu’s Wonders in Waste is now available online, helping schools beyond Noida and Greater Noida adopt these best practices.

2025–26: Scaling Nationwide & Embedding Sustainability

Now, in 2025–26, the My Clean City initiative is scaling up. Under its Circular Economy Program, Lending Hands Foundation will implement the program in over 80 schools.

Key highlights for 2025–26 include:

• Aligning sessions directly with the book’s 6 chapters
  
  
• Launching a digital campaign with online competitions and resource sharing
  
  
• Seeking formal recognition of the book from CBSE, NCERT, and UNV to integrate waste education into regular school curricula
  
  
• Introducing a Training-of-Trainers (ToT) Handbook to help teachers blend waste management into subjects like science, social studies, and art
  
  

With these steps, My Clean City, supported by HCLFoundation and implemented by LHF, is evolving into a model for environmental education in India — showing how schools can champion sustainability and circular economy practices.

Join the Movement for a Cleaner, Greener Future

The My Clean City initiative proves that when students lead, communities follow. With over 5,000 young Waste Champions already making a difference in Noida and Greater Noida, schools, teachers, and parents across India are now invited to join the movement.

Let’s empower every child to see waste not as trash — but as a resource, an opportunity, and a shared responsibility.