From Coffee Waste to Community Impact: Gaurjan Sharma Wins 2025 SIMA Student Changemaker Award
“Creating ReBrew taught me that impact requires both creativity and structure. I learned how to turn an idea into a tangible project, from designing sustainable products to building an online presence and organising fundraisers. I discovered the power of storytelling: sharing why coffee waste matters and how communities benefit can inspire action far beyond what I imagined.”
Student and young leader, Gaurjan Sharma from Chandigarh, India, is the winner of the 2025 SIMA Student Changemaker Award. Inspired by SIMA Academy films, The Happiness Shop, a film featuring a Vietnam-based social enterprise that empowers women with disabilities by providing meaningful employment crafting recycled-material souvenirs, fostering independence, inclusion, and purpose, and As For Us, a film which highlights how communities in India’s coal regions are confronting unemployment, inequality, and environmental damage by creating alternative livelihoods, offering a hopeful vision of a just transition beyond coal. Gaurjan created ReBrew, a youth-led social initiative transforming coffee waste collected from local cafes into sustainable products. Her project promoted sustainable innovative solutions and it encouraged her and her volunteers to connect with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Q&A WITH SIMA
What SIMA Academy film(s) inspired your project?
The two films that inspired my project were The Happiness Shop and As For Us. The Happiness Shop reminded me that change doesn’t always begin with grand gestures, sometimes, it starts with repurposing what’s been overlooked. Watching how ordinary people turned discarded materials into sources of light and meaning made me realise that sustainability is as much about creativity as it is about care. That idea became the soul of ReBrew: transforming used coffee grounds, something often seen as waste, into candles and scrubs that spark awareness and hope.
As For Us reinforced the importance of resilience and community in climate action. It reminded me that individual impact multiplies when rooted in collective responsibility- a principle that drives ReBrew’s goal to empower rural women and support coffee farmers while reducing environmental harm.
What were the main topics of discussion after the screening?
After the screening, the main topics of discussion centered on sustainability and creative reuse, particularly how overlooked waste materials can be transformed into meaningful resources. Participants discussed the idea that change doesn’t always require grand solutions, but can begin with small, community-driven actions rooted in creativity and care. Another key theme was resilience and empathy in climate action, highlighting the human stories behind environmental issues and the importance of community and collective responsibility. The conversation also explored youth-led social innovation, emphasizing how blending art, science, and compassion can create projects that not only reduce environmental harm but also empower local communities and support social causes.
What did you learn from the film(s)? Did you gain a new perspective about the issue?
The Happiness Shop taught me that sustainability isn’t only about preserving the planet, it’s about restoring purpose. I realised that what we discard often holds the potential to heal, to reconnect us with the environment and with each other. It shifted my view of “waste” from something disposable to something transformative.
As For Us showed me the emotional side of environmentalism that behind every statistic are real people, real communities, and real stories of resilience. It made me understand that climate action isn’t just about innovation; it’s about empathy. That realization became the foundation of ReBrew- merging science, creativity, and compassion to turn discarded coffee into instruments of awareness and change.
What’s the purpose of the project you created?
ReBrew is a youth-led social initiative transforming coffee waste collected from local cafes into sustainable products like candles and scrubs, crafted in collaboration with local potters and rural women. Through its creative reuse of coffee grounds, ReBrew promotes environmental accountability while empowering communities and funding farmers- blending sustainability, art, and impact into one movement.
Please tell us about the impact of your project. You can use both quantitative and qualitative outcomes.
Since its foundation, ReBrew has transformed used coffee grounds into 100+ eco-friendly candles and scrubs, reducing waste while raising awareness about sustainable consumption. Through online campaigns and collaborations, we have reached over 25,000 people, spreading the message of sustainability and social responsibility. The project has empowered local potters and rural women, providing commission-based income, and has supported coffee farmers. Proceeds also fund education and food initiatives for children and families in Gaza, with over 80% of donations directed to these causes. Qualitatively, ReBrew fosters community engagement and creative expression, allowing people to actively participate in sustainability through painting and personalising candles. With three upcoming fundraisers, we aim to exceed ₹30,000 in revenue each, scaling impact while blending environmental accountability with personal creativity.
What you learned in the process of creating your project?
Creating ReBrew taught me that impact requires both creativity and structure. I learned how to turn an idea into a tangible project, from designing sustainable products to building an online presence and organising fundraisers. I discovered the power of storytelling: sharing why coffee waste matters and how communities benefit can inspire action far beyond what I imagined. Most importantly, I learned that meaningful change comes from collaboration, empathy, and persistence, whether it’s working with local potters, rural women, or NGOs supporting children in Gaza. The most rewarding aspect was seeing people connect emotionally with the project, painting their candles, learning about sustainability, and realizing their small action contributes to real change.However, balancing multiple moving parts- product R&D, fundraisers, online outreach, and community partnerships- was tough. I had to develop systems and workflows to stay organised and ensure every part of ReBrew ran smoothly while keeping the project’s purpose intact.
Please share a memorable moment during your event.
I think a memorable moment during the event was the planning of ReBrew and the coordination with volunteers and partner organisations. Together, and through the use of many tools, we were able to balance creativity with structure, turning scattered ideas into an actionable, sustainable impact plan.
