Meet Varnik Gill | Ecosysteens Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Varnik Gill and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Varnik, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When my close friends Sehej and Piyush and I first started discussing how we could make a positive environmental impact, I suggested creating a nonprofit organization to consolidate our ideas and expand our reach. That’s when Ecosysteens was born! I came up with the name by combining my passion for ecosystems and engaging teens. It has been so rewarding to see how our name resonates with people and encapsulates our mission. To get to where we are today, we put in a tremendous amount of effort networking and building partnerships with institutions like Rice Middle School, the City of Carrollton, the City of Coppell, and the Texas Conservation Alliance. Collaborating with these organizations has enabled us to successfully execute impactful projects like large-scale cleanups and building self-watering planters from plastic bottles. Our whole team has demonstrated immense creativity and perseverance to drive real change in our community’s ecosystem. I could not be prouder of what we have accomplished so far. We overcame many challenges through flexibility, teamwork, and determination. The journey has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to see how much more we can achieve.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I find immense fulfillment in being creative through art while also doing my part for sustainability. We have worked hard to pioneer innovative ways to repurpose plastic waste into beautiful and functional art mediums like reusable bags and self-watering plastic bottle planters. There were many trials and errors to perfect these designs, but we persevered through the creative process with dedication. I learned how vital flexibility, problem-solving, and teamwork are in overcoming obstacles along the way. Our community has been a huge source of support and inspiration. I hope our unique artwork motivates others to explore their own creative outlets to support environmental conservation; creativity and innovation are key to building a sustainable future. We want to demonstrate that small actions can add up to real change. Our work has been a learning process but very rewarding.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If a friend visited Plano, I would want to highlight our city’s beautiful green spaces and parks to appreciate nature. We could take a peaceful walk along the trails of local parks, such as Jack Carter and Russell Creek, to admire the native plants and wildlife. These parks offer scenic winding trails perfect for a relaxing stroll. Picnicking on a nice grassy area would be a wonderful way to unwind and get away from the bustle of urban life. We could chat and enjoy being surrounded by nature’s serenity. I would also suggest we volunteer at the inspirational community garden where we could get our hands dirty while benefiting a good cause. Exploring the local parks with a friend would be a refreshing way to decompress, gain a new perspective, and meaningfully connect with the environment. Walking among the trees and greenspaces does wonders for reducing stress. I feel very fortunate that our city offers these natural spaces for people to enjoy. Getting outdoors reminds us how valuable nature is and motivates me to protect it.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I sincerely want to express my deepest gratitude to our entire Ecosysteens team for their unrelenting passion, dedication, creativity, and perseverance that continue driving our mission. Their commitment is truly inspiring. I also owe immense thanks to our mentors, collaborators, partners, families, friends, volunteers, and supporters who have guided, inspired, aided and believed in us every step of the way. It is the collective effort, wisdom, and encouragement of this wonderful community that enables us to engage and empower teens to take action for sustainability. I could not have accomplished any of this monumental undertaking on my own. Each person has contributed in meaningful ways, big and small. I look forward to continuing to work hand-in-hand together to create positive impact. My shoutout is to everyone who has been part of this journey—you have helped turn our vision into reality. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Website: ecosysteens.org

Instagram: instagram.com/ecosysteens

Other: linktr.ee/ecosysteens

Image Credits
Varnik Gill