Buy Food with Plastic India - the founding story

Sometimes, in-person meetings are not necessary to connect with one another. Our team has learned this again and again over the years. Through social media, our paths come together in ways that are not predictable. This was also the case with the virtual meeting with Shakti, our Country Manager in India. This was an important moment in the history of Buy Food with Plastic, which is why we want to tell this story now:

In the bustling streets of Bhandup, a slum in Mumbai, Shakti Yadav grew up. Life there was a daily struggle: the narrow alleys, overcrowded homes, and the smell of waste shaped his childhood. But the biggest problem that concerned him even as a young boy was the vast amount of plastic bottles and waste that accumulated on the streets during the monsoon season. When the rain came, Bhandup turned into a labyrinth of flooded streets – the plastic prevented the water from draining away, and the neighborhood stood underwater for weeks every year.

With every monsoon that came and went, Shakti wondered if there could be a solution that could help both the plastic problem and the many children in Bhandup. He also knew what it felt like to stand there empty-handed and hungry, but there were many who had it even worse. Shakti wanted to change something. He was ready to do anything to improve the living conditions in his neighborhood.

One day, while scrolling through Instagram, Shakti came across a video by Khalil Radi, the founder of Buy Food with Plastic. Khalil was conducting a community event in Nicaragua where local residents could exchange plastic bottles for a warm meal. The idea was simple but powerful – exactly what Shakti had been looking for.

He showed the video to his friend Parvez: “That's just one of those Western ideas,” Parvez said skeptically. “That will never work in India.” But Shakti did not let go of it. An inner restlessness seized him, and he felt that there was an opportunity here. So he plucked up his courage and messaged Khalil on Instagram. To Shakti's surprise, Khalil replied, and an initial call was arranged.

This first exchange was special: Shakti was sitting in a rattling Indian tuk-tuk, while Khalil was sitting on a Swiss tram. Despite the many kilometers between them, they understood each other immediately. Shakti talked about the floods, the plastic problem, and the daily hunger that the people in Bhandup lived with. Khalil was moved and impressed by Shakti's vision and determination.

But back then, in 2018, the financial resources were lacking to implement the project in India. Khalil had to tell Shakti that they could not help him at that time, even though it broke his heart.

But Shakti did not give up. He remained persistent for over two years. Time and again, he sent messages, detailed budget plans, and even videos to show how urgently Bhandup needed the Buy Food with Plastic project. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation in the slum became even worse. Hunger was omnipresent, and Shakti wrote even more urgent messages to Khalil and his team. He was determined to change the situation.

In 2020, we realized that the time had come. Both sides had great trust in each other. With a pilot project, they started the program, purely digitally in Mumbai. Thanks to Shakti's commitment, they were able to help 300 people in Bhandup and secure them a warm meal – in exchange for plastic bottles that would otherwise have clogged the streets and rivers.

Today, Shakti Yadav is the Country Manager for India and leads the project with tireless dedication. His journey from the slums of Bhandup to this position is a story of perseverance, courage, and the belief that you can change the world with a small idea and a big vision.

With a donation of 50 CHF, you already provide one of our Country Managers with a day's wage.

Here is the location of Buy Food with Plastic India, which Shakti and his team have set up: