When Avrithi lost her mother, she found herself searching for meaning, for grounding, for continuity.
So on her mother’s birth anniversary, she created something deeply personal:
Deweshwari Welfare Society (DEWS), a tribute not in stone, but in action.
“My mother taught me to notice the small things. DEWS is my way of passing that on.”
When she first came across Goonj in 2023, it began with a simple act of dropping off materials at a collection point. But what drew her in wasn’t the process. It was the philosophy.
She resonated with the belief that material is never just material. That intent matters. That giving must carry dignity.
And with that alignment, she began something even more powerful, a movement of her own, shaped through three active DEWS initiatives:
In December 2023, she reached out to Goonj after decluttering her home, but quickly realised it wasn’t about just letting go off material. It was about what stays. The philosophy of mindful giving echoed her own inner voice.
Through this alignment, she shaped three ongoing initiatives under DEWS:
- Sangini: Menstrual dignity outreach through education, access, and peer dialogue
- Chetna: Adolescent mental health support, creating safe emotional spaces for young voices to be seen and heard
- Samvedna: A collaboration with Goonj leading structured material collection drives and awareness sessions across Dehradun and Garhwal
“Mental health needs as much care as physical health. Chetna is my way of listening to young voices and making sure they feel seen.”
What sets her apart is not scale, it’s spirit.
Avrithi personally folded each cloth. She laid out the soaps, books, and notebooks on clean tables. She pinned carefully designed pamphlets to each packet, not as instructions, but as gentle messages. Thoughtful reminders about menstrual dignity, mental health, and emotional safety.
For her, giving isn’t just about handing over materials. It’s about how people feel when they receive them. That is her lens, not just of contribution, but of continuity.
This is what community looks like: hands joined not just in giving, but in purpose.
Be a Part of Change
Our invitation to you is, start from where you are.. From a small change of starting a Goonj kee Gullak or Team 5000, joining a long and deep change process, or things in between- organising a collection drive, a volunteering journey, an internship, or simply walking with us signing for a Goonj monthly newsletter subscription.. More on www.goonj.org or write to [email protected].
Many options, but the choice is always one; Taking Action..
