Soleful Steps, originally HEJJE, is an initiative led by the Department of Computer Applications in partnership with Vana Charitable Trust. The drive that was conducted from 15 January to 15 February 2025 aimed to address the mounting issue of waste from discarded footwear by promoting repair, reuse, and recycling.
The inauguration of the Soleful Steps drive took place on January 15, 2025, at St Agnes College. Mr. Jeet Milan Roche, the founder of Vana Charitable Trust, graced the occasion alongside Mrs. Malavika Shetty, Head of the Department of Computer Applications and Mr. Vashishta Rai, the Student Vice-President of BCA.
The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome speech by Ms Crystal Pinto, Secretary for Computer Club, followed by an inspiring address from Mr. Roche, who enlightened the audience about the origins of the campaign. Mr. Roche shared how the idea sparked during a beach cleanup, where to his surprise found an abundance of discarded footwear more than any other waste. He highlighted the staggering achievement of the trust in collecting over 50,000 pairs of footwear, many of which were still in good condition and only required minor repairs. He emphasized the detrimental impact of the prevailing “use and throw” culture and expressed gratitude to the college faculty and students for their support.
Mrs Malavika Shetty extended her congratulations to Mr. Jeet Roche for providing a viable solution to a pressing environmental concern. She urged both students and faculty to actively participate in the drive and contribute towards its success.
