Versova Beach Cleanup

In October 2015, lawyer Afroz Shah began clearing waist-deep trash from Mumbai's Versova beach with one neighbor, growing the effort into weekly volunteer cleanups the UN called the world's largest beach cleanup. By its 100-week mark the movement had removed 5.3 million kilograms of trash from the 2.5-kilometer beach, and the restored shoreline later saw Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings return. Shah received the UN Champions of the Earth award in 2016 and continues cleanup work across Mumbai's beaches and rivers.