For 23-year-old Ms Sohana Khatun, environmental sustainability is not just about reducing waste but is also about caring for people and ensuring no one is left behind.
The Temasek Polytechnic student - who is pursuing a Diploma in Integrated Facilities Management - has always been passionate about social inclusion and volunteering.
This passion, combined with a childhood love for DIY jewellery, inspired her to launch ‘Wear Your Waste’. The unique initiative transforms everyday waste, such as spent coffee grounds collected from cafes and post-consumer plastic bottle caps, into beautiful handcrafted wearables like earrings, keychains, and bookmarks.
What sets the project apart is its emphasis on inclusivity. Ms Sohana designs and conducts specialised upcycling workshops for persons with disabilities and special needs by carefully adapting each session to suit participants with varying mobility and sensory needs. By simplifying instructions and breaking down complex tool-handling steps, she ensures that everyone can participate meaningfully.
Her inspiring initiative was among those recognised at the Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Leaders Programme Graduation Ceremony held on Friday, July 10, at Kallang Wave Mall. Ms Sohana was one of 28 youth leaders from the programme’s third cohort honoured by the National Environment Agency (NEA) for developing impactful, community-driven sustainability solutions.
Collectively, the 28 youth leaders spearheaded 15 initiatives that bridge knowledge gaps, encourage sustainable habits and tackle various waste streams, each tailored to the needs of their communities. NEA will continue working with the YES Leaders to explore the next steps for these projects.
Speaking at the ceremony, Guest of Honour Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, commended the graduates for embodying the “We First” spirit and emphasised the vital role young people play in building a climate-ready future during the Year of Climate Adaptation.
To support future participants, Minister Fu announced that project grants for upcoming cohorts will increase by 20 per cent, from S$5,000 to S$6,000. Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) will also be joining the programme as a new partner.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms Sohana said the programme fundamentally changed the way she approaches sustainability.
“The biggest lesson I learnt through the YES Leaders Programme is that a good idea needs strong execution and stakeholder support to create real impact. Before this project, I saw sustainability mainly through the lens of passion and creativity. Through the programme, I learnt that planning, communication and stakeholder management are just as important.”
She added that bringing Wear Your Waste to life required close collaboration with social service organisations, educators, vendors and participants, whose support and feedback were instrumental to the project’s success.
