The Alimond Show
Welcome to The Alimond Show --join us as we share our entrepreneurial guests' stories, uncover their secrets to success, and explore the unique paths they've taken to build thriving businesses in our community.
In each episode, our host, Aliyah Dastour, sits down with a diverse group of local business owners, from the corner cafe to the boutique shop, from tech startups to family-run enterprises. We peel back the curtain to reveal the trials, triumphs, and transformational moments that have shaped their entrepreneurial journey.
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The Alimond Show
Shrusti Amula - From Seventh-Grade Skepticism to Sustainability Leader: Combatting Food Waste, Advocating for Policy Change, and Inspiring Youth Through Educational Initiatives and Community Action
Shrusti Amula defied the odds, turning youthful ambition into impactful action as she founded the Rise N Shine Foundation to combat food waste. Join us as we uncover her journey from a seventh-grader facing skepticism to leading initiatives that educate communities on sustainability and food recovery. Shrusti's story is not only about overcoming age-related barriers but also about instilling green habits in the next generation. We delve into her early inspirations, her strategies for using compost and food recovery programs to reduce food waste, and the significant role youth-led initiatives play in fostering environmental consciousness.
Our conversation also explores the broader implications of tackling food waste through policy engagement and advocacy. Shrusti opens up about the challenges of running a nonprofit while being a full-time student and how recognition as one of L'Oreal Paris's "Women of Worth" has connected her with fellow changemakers. Discover how policy change, like passing a bill in Maryland to fund compost programs, can create lasting impact. Learn about her successful postcard campaign involving over 17,000 students and parents and the implementation of food recovery programs in 211 schools. Shrusti's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of being a "solutionist" and taking actionable steps for societal betterment.
My name is Shrusti Amula. I'm the founder of Rise and Shine Foundation, and our main goal is to reduce food waste in your community, to fight both climate change and food insecurity.
Speaker 2:I love it. Now tell me a little bit about what you guys do, who's on the team, who helps you and what you are trying to change in the schools and with the environment and everything.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so our main programs is that we run compost programs in schools and then food recovery programs in both schools and businesses.
Speaker 1:So basically we are trying to educate people about. So mainly I started this with trying to educate people about the negative environmental impact of food waste, because food waste is the third largest contributor to climate change and it's such an easy thing that we can fix, but a lot of people just don't know how big of an issue it is. So I initially started with the idea of opening compost programs in schools and that way we would be able to educate people at a young age that they can carry it on their entire life. But then, while I was running these compost programs in these schools, I realized that the students are trying to throw away or trying to compost food that they didn't even open. So then, especially after COVID, when food insecurity was a rising problem and such a big issue even right now, I realized that this food that students aren't even eating could be used to fight food insecurity, and the same goes for businesses as well. So that's how we started our program.
Speaker 2:I love that Especially. I looked online and I saw like everybody looks so young. Talk to me about that. Like how are you guys like handling it? Because I know sometimes it can be a little bit like you know, when you look young people certain are sometimes like is this is this just like? Is this real Like? Are you guys serious? Talk to me about that and what have been some challenges for you guys?
Speaker 1:Yeah, so our entire thing is that we are fully youth led, so our programs are run by the youth for the youth.
Speaker 1:So initially it was very hard because I started the program when I started my first compost program when I was in the seventh grade, so obviously I was very young. And then I went to different principals and I went to like almost a dozen different schools trying to pitch them the compost program and like the benefit it would have and how to run it. And this program was very efficient, like it's very easy for these schools to run it. But a lot of schools weren't even receptive to hearing me and a lot of it was because of, like, how young I was. So I guess like it didn't seem as legitimate. So I faced a lot of issues initially trying to start my program. But after I ran the first program and then the school was able to realize how beneficial it was, because at that one school I started it at, I started it at a very small elementary school and they were almost able to divert almost 2,000 pounds of food in one month.
Speaker 1:So, it was making a big impact. So after running it in that one school and seeing how successful it was, the word was able to get out there and then ever since that it's been going a lot more smoothly, but obviously it gets easier year by year, which is really great, but at first it was very hard.
Speaker 1:So our entire goal is that we want to run this for the youth, so we want to educate the youth about this big problem. So if we're able to get the word out there that food waste is such a big issue but it can be, it can be solved so easily and we're starting to get this idea in the youth's like heads at a very young age. They're carrying this for their entire lives. So one of our big things that we like saying is that we're creating young, we're creating green habits at a very young age, which is something that we're trying to get more widespread.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that is incredible. And you're so young, which is crazy. I want to ask what instilled this in you to get this started Like at such a young age, because you know, when you're a kid you're just like I want to go play video games or I want to go hang out with my friends at the mall. Like how did you come about caring for this and the environmental aspects of it?
Speaker 1:all. I think my parents at a very young age instilled in us, or instilled in me and my brother, that if you're in like the position to give or if you're in the position to help other people, that you should. So I think that part of it was instilled at me in a very young age. But in the seventh grade I went to our county has like an agricultural fair every year. So I went to the agricultural fair and someone was talking about food waste and composting and this idea was obviously very new to me. I think a lot of people at that time didn't know what it was. But basically he was talking about the negative environmental impacts of food waste and how big of an issue it was and obviously, like being in school myself, I knew that I didn't think twice when I threw away food, and I know a lot of my peers don't either, and that's how like it just really shocked me. So I wanted to bring light to this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's incredible. I love what you're doing and that you're trying to get the youth involved. So it's not just you're helping and then it's like, all right, everybody go home. It's like you're instilling this to them and then they're going to instill it to their friend and it's going to become like people being more aware, especially at a young age. Yeah, so it's literally planting those seeds, yeah, and then talk to me about some of the work that you do, like teaching about compost and food waste.
Speaker 1:Talk to me about it so whenever, because education is a big part of our program. So whenever we open our compost program, two weeks before the program actually starts, we have like an educational period. So we have made educational videos that we play on the morning, enhancements every single day so that it really gets ingrained in the students heads. And then we also made posters and flyers that we hung up around the school so these students are seeing it everywhere. They're really learning about it so that they actually know what a big issue it is. Then I find that whenever we start the compost program and me and other compost directors go to the school on the first day so we're able to directly interact with the students, directly answer any questions that they have too.
Speaker 1:So, we're having, like the one-to-one contact, and we also find that they're able to learn better from people that are closer in age. Yes, and I think they feel a lot more inspired that way as well. So we're able to answer any questions and these students are really, really excited about the program. They love doing it. Like I talked to the kindergartners the kindergartners even and they catch on so quickly, which I think a lot of people are shocked by. But they're like look at me like I'm saving the entire world and that's so beautiful to see.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I love it as far as social media and marketing goes for yourself, like to spread and educate what are you doing, or are you doing anything online, or is it more in person and through flyers and stuff to spread the word of what you're doing?
Speaker 1:yeah, I think it's a mixture of both. I think there is, especially on the school front, like a big thing about word of mouth, because the principals are talking to other schools and then word is spreading that way and I've had a lot of principals reach out to me because, like because they're saying that another principal reached out to them and they reach out to me, so I think word has been spreading a lot through that.
Speaker 1:But we also do run different social media platforms and, um, a lot of our funding for our non-profit comes through grants and we found that like posting a lot of like pictures of the work that we're doing on like our Instagram or like our Twitter and stuff, um, we found that that really like it just shows like how legitimate we are and like the actual work that we're doing and I think that catches the eye of like a lot of like grants and like different corporations, but also the eyes of the students, because they're actually seeing the work that we're doing absolutely.
Speaker 2:And speaking of the corporations, I saw online that you guys have a lot of like sponsors, like Einstein's Bagel, walmart, walmart, all kinds of stuff. Talk to me about that and why that's so important and how you were even able to accomplish that with big names like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so kind of a similar pattern of what I was talking about in school is that they're throwing away food that's not even eaten. They're throwing away food that's not even eaten. And we found the same thing is happening in businesses and grocery stores, but on an even bigger scale, because they're throwing away food that either doesn't look appealing or they're often throwing away food before the expiry date. So we realized how big of an issue this was. So we reached out to these corporations, these businesses, um, basically telling them that we would love to for them to donate their food to us so that we could redistribute it to people who are actually facing food insecurity, to like food pantries, to homeless shelters.
Speaker 1:Um, and it has been a little bit difficult because I think there is like a big misconception of that um, because a lot of corporations don't want to donate their food, thinking that that they don't want liability to be on them if they donate food but it goes bad. But there actually is a big misconception about that because there is like a federal act preventing this. So the Good Samaritan Act protects corporations that donate food in good faith. Yeah, yeah, so we've also been trying to spread the word about that, because it has been a little bit difficult on that side.
Speaker 2:I'm glad you touched on that subject, because I didn't even know. We're going to know that. Thank you. What do you like to do in your free time? It seems that you're so busy figuring all of this out and finding ways to help, which is incredible, but when you like to take time for yourself and do things that are fun, maybe this is fun for you, right? What are those?
Speaker 1:other things, yeah, so it has been a little bit challenging, like fully managing this, like nonprofit, and then I'm also a full time student, so it has been a little bit difficult. But I find that if you're truly passionate about something, then you're going to find the motivation in yourself to like push yourself. So that's what I like telling people about how, like I'm able to manage everything, but I truly love all the work I've been doing with the non-profit, um, and then the different opportunities I've gotten through that and like how we're actually able to make an impact on our community, which is so great. Yeah, but other than that, like I just like spending time with my friends, coming home, visiting my family, um, yeah, I love it.
Speaker 2:No, don't forget to take care of yourself yeah get some rest in between. You're so young but you're accomplishing so much, so that's amazing. I also want to touch on. You were, um, I believe, invited or an honoree for L'Oreal Paris, which I think that's so cool. I saw your video was on their YouTube.
Speaker 1:I love L'Oreal, that's great it was such a great like experience.
Speaker 2:It was amazing. Yeah, what was that?
Speaker 1:like? Did you go to get to go to the like the award? I saw your video was on their YouTube. I love L'Oreal. It was such a great like experience. It was amazing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, what was that like. Did you get to go to like the award ceremony and everything? What was that like? How did you feel? Hello.
Speaker 1:I think that was like one of like. That was like the first, like huge thing that like I've been a part of and that really shocked me great experience. I was honored like along 10 other extraordinary women, um, and we were like their 10, like women of worth, and we, like at first we had like at first, like a couple months before, like the actual awards we all like got to meet each other and it was so incredible because we're all trying to fix such diverse different issues and I think obviously I've been working so much in like food insecurity and like climate change and it was so great to hear like different ideas. Yeah, um, and I think that was also very mind-opening because I got to learn about a lot of issues I didn't even know were a thing, um, and I loved doing that.
Speaker 1:And then we were flown out to Los Angeles where, like, the award ceremony was hosted. That's so cool, yeah, it was incredible, um. And then they treat us so well, like there's a lot of pampering and like it was so great. And then we got to meet a lot of other like amazing people, um, like the one that I remember the most is like Camila Cabello, and we got to meet and we got to see her and like she gave me a hug and it was incredible to like meet all these different people, um, and then we were able to like give a speech and like to like a crowd full of like celebrities and like influencers and then all of our loved ones, and it was a really great experience.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you'll never forget. No, so cool. And did they reach out to you, were they just like? We see what you're doing. Come over here. We love you.
Speaker 1:Um, for the L'Oreal. Yeah, we had to apply to it Okay.
Speaker 2:No, but that's cool, the fact that they chose you like. I'm sure how many people apply.
Speaker 1:It was a lot. Yeah, exactly, it was great.
Speaker 2:Congratulations on the work that you're doing.
Speaker 1:I love it.
Speaker 2:Is there anything that perhaps I have not touched on that you want to share, whether it's about yourself, your industry, anything at all, you have the floor.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think something I want to touch on is, like our political aspect of the work that we're doing. So a lot of what we realized throughout the years of work we've been doing is how important it is to have policy passed, especially if you want to make your work systemically implemented. So we've been working with our county legislator or state legislators and we were able to get SB 124 passed and funded. So basically, what this bill is doing is it gives $1.25 dollars to schools in Maryland who want to open compost programs, which is so incredible.
Speaker 1:Wow, yeah, it took took a lot of years of like hard work and pushing but you did it yeah, um, and then with that, we um ran a postcard campaign and we basically sent postcards out to a lot of different schools and students in different organizations throughout Maryland and we were able to get the support of over 17,000 students and parents.
Speaker 1:It was incredible I did this along with, like other organizations but the amount of like, the amount of community we were able to build around this sentiment was incredible and I think this really showed me how much people were willing to back our work and this idea and our program. So this is something I want to get more spread like spread nationally and even worldwide, hopefully soon and then, apart from that, our food recovery programs that we run in schools we were also able to get, in partnership with our county school system and now we're able to get it implemented in every 211 schools in our county which is super exciting and now it's managed to run, which I think is very incredible, because every student deserves to have access to food.
Speaker 1:It's so important, but I think it's something that isn't being addressed enough, especially after COVID. But, yeah, I'm really glad that we were able to get that pushed through and hopefully I'm looking to expanding nationally now. Yeah, I love that Good for you, girl.
Speaker 2:There's so many things and you're able to do it, so I'm proud, thank you. It's like another brown girl to another brown girl.
Speaker 1:This is amazing, I love it.
Speaker 2:And now my final, final question Do you have a quote, a saying or even a mantra that has inspired you in any way? Maybe someone told you, maybe you read it in a book. What is that message that you would like to leave our audience with?
Speaker 1:but be a solutionist, and I think it's really important because, obviously, activism is incredibly important, it's super important, but apart from that, you need to take it a step further and actually take action on the things that you're passionate about, like obviously, bringing awareness to it, talking about it, is so important, but you actually need to see these solutions, because I think a lot of the times, we're like waiting for other people to take or to make the solutions for us. Yeah, so that's something I've really taken a heart and it's like behind every single program and everything we were able to accomplish so far yeah, that was incredible.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for being on the podcast. We really appreciate making time to be here and I wish you all the good luck and all the best for getting our world and the youth to be inspired to help.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much. Thank you for having me, absolutely.