Jodie Underhill

“I didn’t choose garbage, it chose me! When I witnessed how severe India’s garbage problem is, it completely broke my heart. I also realised then that I’d found my life’s mission. I’m not scared of hard work, I love a challenge and I’ve picked up lots of garbage whilst on my travels even before coming to India.

There is a social stigma attached to garbage that simply doesn’t affect me as I’m from a society that doesn’t have a caste system. I’ve been raised to believe that we’re all equals. Sweeping, scrubbing paan stains, picking up dirty nappies or garbage that has been urinated on doesn’t bother me one bit. I don’t see it as someone else’s job, I just get on and do whatever needs to be done As the organisation grows I have less time to get involved in clean ups and it’s something I genuinely miss. They make you feel very close to nature.”