Trash Hunt is a large-scale beach cleanup drive initiated by Captains Social Foundation, in collaboration with UNICEF India (YuWaah) and Meri LiFE by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India. This unique event transforms a typical beach cleanup into a fun, collaborative and competitive challenge, where volunteers work together to collect non-biodegradable waste, earning rewards for their efforts. What began as a simple beach cleanup drive has evolved into a powerful civic engagement platform that mobilises thousands of young people to take responsibility for environmental conservation. 

Participants can join individually or as representatives of their institution or organisation. Each participant will receive cleanup supplies, including gloves, garbage bags, and other essentials. Volunteers will undertake a timed mission to collect as much non-biodegradable waste as possible and return to the central meeting point, where the collected waste will be weighed and recorded. During the process, participants may receive surprise reward coupons, which can be redeemed at the end of the program. The event will conclude with a structured recognition ceremony, where participants, institutions, and coordinators will be formally acknowledged and rewarded for their contribution to environmental conservation and community engagement.

Trash Hunt concludes with a structured recognition ceremony celebrating the contributions of participants, institutions, and coordinators.

For Participants:

1. Certificate of Volunteering: Each participant will receive a Certificate of Volunteering as a token of appreciation for their contribution.
2. Reward Coupons: Participants will earn coupons redeemable for T-shirts, badges, goodies, and other event merchandise.

For Institutions

1. Climate Champions: The institution that mobilises the highest number of volunteers will be awarded the title “Champions of Trash Hunt” and recognised during the closing ceremony.
2. Top Performing Institution: Institutions mobilising more than 100 volunteers will be recognised as Top Performing Institutions.
3. Certificate of Appreciation: All participating institutions and organisations will receive a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of their contribution and engagement.

For Faculty & Coordinators:

1. Certificate of Appreciation: All faculty members and coordinators who represent their institution and actively mobilise and coordinate students will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for their leadership and support.

You can collaborate with us in the following ways:

1. Mobilise your students, employees, or partners to participate in the program.
2. Provide pro bono skill support to help plan, execute, and outreach the program.
3. Provide resources or materials to be distributed as surprise token gifts to the participants.
4. Contribute funds to support the operational expenses of the program.
5. We are open to any other form of support from your side and would be happy to discuss ways to build a meaningful and mutually beneficial collaboration.

• Competitive & Structured Cleanup Format
• Measurable Waste Collection Tracking
• Institutional Participation & Recognition
• Volunteer Reward System
• Public Recognition Ceremony
• Alignment with National and Global Observances

Trash Hunt offers institutions a structured, large-scale experiential learning platform that meaningfully aligns with national education frameworks, accreditation standards, and Institutional Social Responsibility objectives. By partnering with Trash Hunt 4.0, institutions gain access to a high-visibility public initiative that integrates environmental action, youth leadership, and measurable community engagement.

• NEP 2020: Trash Hunt promotes experiential and community-based learning, strengthens value-based education, and integrates civic responsibility into real-world student engagement.
• NAAC & NIRF Parameters: Participation contributes to documented extension activities, measurable community outreach, student engagement metrics, and evidence of sustainability initiatives.
• Institutional Social Responsibility (ISR): Institutions demonstrate structured public engagement, environmental stewardship, and responsible citizen development through organised volunteer mobilisation.

Participation in Trash Hunt supports institutional documentation for accreditation, rankings, and sustainability reporting.

By collaborating with Trash Hunt, institutions receive:

• Enhanced institutional visibility and credibility through participation in a large-scale public climate initiative
• Structured volunteer engagement opportunities for all students, including NSS units, clubs, and departments
• Certificate of Appreciation for institutional collaboration
• Recognition across official outreach and media platforms
• Institutions mobilising the highest number of volunteers will be awarded the title: “Champions of Trash Hunt”
• Top-performing institutions mobilising significant student participation will receive special recognition and appreciation momentoes.
• Faculty members and institutional coordinators who mobilise and coordinate student participation will receive Certificates of Appreciation for their leadership contribution.

All participating students will receive:

• Certificate of Volunteering
• Reward coupons redeemable for event merchandise
• Public recognition during the closing ceremony
• Leadership and community engagement exposure

The Way Forward: This year, Trash Hunt evolves beyond a beach cleanup drive into a Beach Volunteering Festival - a vibrant, action-driven platform that combines climate responsibility with community engagement. The 2026 edition will integrate:

• Mass Coastal Cleanup Action
• Structured Volunteering Arenas
• Community Engagement Zones
• A Formal Recognition Ceremony

Trash Hunt is not merely about collecting waste - it is about building leadership, fostering civic responsibility, and creating a culture of climate action among young people. By participating, institutions and volunteers become part of a growing movement aimed at establishing one of the largest youth-led climate volunteering platforms in Kerala.

Together, we can transform Fort Kochi Beach into a powerful symbol of collective responsibility and environmental stewardship. We invite schools, colleges, universities, corporates, NGOs, and community institutions to collaborate and co-create impact. Trash Hunt is more than an event - it is a movement towards a cleaner coast, stronger institutions, and a generation of socially responsible leaders. For more details and collaboration, reachout to us on info@captains.ngo and +91 7025721225