The power of one

These individuals have single-handedly mobilised task forces and sparked movements to work towards the United Nation's sustainable development goals (SDGs), in ways that are both innovative and intuitive
Curated By: Benu Joshi Routh
Published: Jun 12, 2019
The power of one

Image by : Nishant Ratnakar for Forbes India

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At the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations member, are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They recognise that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth—all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. Apart from numerous organisations around the world that have taken up sustainability as their cause, individuals too are making a difference. Through their efforts they have mobilised a task force of volunteers and sparked movements.

Gayathri Vasudevan, 48
In step with the UN’s sustainability goal of ending poverty, Vasudevan’s organisation Labournet helps workers in the informal sectors re-skill and up-skill by bridging gaps in education, employment and entrepreneurship. So far, LabourNet has enabled a million livelihoods, connected with over 3,200 corporates, and is at a placement success rate of 60 percent, at finding jobs for the skilled workforce. Also, about 7,200 micro-enterprises across industries have mushroomed and are thriving as a result of their interventions. Labournet has created 135 certification courses across 28 industries, and also runs vocational courses in schools.