Meet Arushi Surve

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arushi Surve. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Arushi, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

I developed my confidence and self-esteem through belief. From the start of Mission Green Global, I set goals that others thought were too ambitious: building an international nonprofit at 15, launching chapters across 35+ countries, hosting global events, and even speaking at the US Climate Action Network about youth involvement in climate action. What kept me going wasn’t that I knew all the steps, but that I believed deeply: this will work. That belief gave me the courage to keep raising the bar, even when challenges came.

Every milestone reinforced that confidence doesn’t mean having all the answers, but rather, it’s about trusting yourself enough to start, adapting when needed, and believing that what you’re building matters. My self-esteem grew each time I saw that vision turn into action: volunteers joining in, communities impacted, and ideas becoming reality. The feeling I got after seeing chapter applications arrive, our podcast program take flight, and our first overseas event—a lake cleanup in Serbia—come to life was one not of validation: the validation came from building the programs itself, but rather contentment. At the heart of it, belief has been my engine. I set high goals because I believe they’ll happen, and that belief gives me the confidence to keep pushing forward.

From turning a small high school club into a fully registered nonprofit, to telling my Executive Board (Alexa Gilbert, Anusha Ghosalkar, Eubin Kim, Srinidhi Krishnan, and Vyhika Gourishetty) I wanted 10 international chapters—and now, with their support, reaching 58—faith and optimism have fueled my confidence that our organization can help address environmental issues worldwide. There have been organizations, groups, and individuals who doubted us, but our drive to keep building shifted our mindset from competing on timelines to embracing constant growth.

Now, we’re launching new programs every month because I believe there’s a space for every young person in climate action. That’s why we don’t limit ourselves to one issue—we take a holistic approach, creating solution-driven initiatives that empower the next generation of climate and policy leaders.

I envision us making a meaningful impact because I believe—in myself, my team, and my organization—and I strive to inspire others to believe too, knowing that by working together, we can help heal the planet.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m a passionate environmentalist and aspiring aerospace engineer who hopes to lead sustainable space exploration efforts that prioritize saving our planet before inhabiting others. I’m a former NASA Intern, a NASA Space Waste Challenge Researcher, New York Academy of Sciences Intern and University of the Basque-Spain researcher, where I published work on natural composite materials. My most proud role is leading Mission Green Global (MGG). MGG is more than a project to me: it’s how I fight for the environment, using a united belief to foster collaboration, which has transformed my voice into a chorus.
I’m also passionate about accessibility. Environmentalism shouldn’t be limited to those with resources. I want to bring sustainability education to communities that have never had that chance. Climate advocacy is not just about solving a crisis—it’s about uniting people and giving them tangible ways to protect what they care about.
Ultimately, I care about turning belief into action and ensuring that young people around the world know that their voice matters in shaping a greener future.

As the founder of Mission Green Global, an international youth-led nonprofit driving climate action in over 35 countries, I’ve seen firsthand the power of young people to lead transformative change. Whether facilitating ocean sustainability workshops or collaborating with global partners to promote reforestation and environmental equity, I’ve worked to ensure that underrepresented youth have both a voice and a platform in shaping our future. Additionally, as a scientist, engineer, and researcher, artist, and podcast host, I love interdisciplinary thinking that can get every youth involved: whether designing tote bags, sharing climate stories, or creating technology that cleans oil spills, I believe there’s a place for every youth (and adult too!) in climate action.

Mission Green Global is an International 501(c)(3) with 58 chapters across 37 countries. We are entirely 18 and under led, and have programs serving issues across climate action: from air pollution to marine life. We believe in a holistic approach, using different types of programs-from workshops and podcasts to film festivals and cleanups.

I’ve been an environmentalist my whole life, but it wasn’t until 10th grade where I realized I could actively fight for it. We were on a trip in the mountains of India, where I saw hundreds of plastic bottles littered in the valley we were hiking. I enlisted my family and passing tourists to help pick them up. Coming back, I first realized I wanted to get involved in climate action now, and not wait until I was older. However, I ran into the same problems younger youth face everywhere: programs were too far, designed for older participants, or too rigid for full-time students. So, at 15, I didn’t wait—I built my own solution. Mission Green Global is a place where all youth can get involved in climate action and earn service hours, from anywhere across the world in multiple formats across multiple interests (coding, art, speaking, writing) across multiple issues (animal welfare, light pollution, plastic).

My long-term vision for Mission Green Global is to build the world’s largest, most accessible youth-led climate network—one that doesn’t just talk about change, but creates it at the community level across every continent.
Ultimately, I hope to institutionalize youth involvement in environmental decision-making—bridging the gap between grassroots movements and global policy. I aim to collaborate with governments, NGOs, and educational systems to integrate climate literacy and youth activism into core curricula and civic programs worldwide.
My goal isn’t just a greener planet—it’s a more equitable and united one, where youth are no longer seen as future leaders, but as the leaders of now.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Belief was the starting point. I learned early that if you set high goals but don’t believe in them, they remain ideas. Belief gave me the courage to launch Mission Green Global as a teenager, confident that “this will work” even when I didn’t have all the answers. Advice: strengthen this muscle by setting ambitious goals and backing them with action, even in small steps—seeing them through builds confidence.

Hunger pushed me beyond the bare minimum. It’s what made me keep raising the bar: from one chapter to 58, from a local club to a global nonprofit. Hunger is the desire to do more, to keep learning, to expand impact even when success might tempt you to slow down. Advice: stay curious and never settle—ask yourself “what’s next?” and chase that answer.

Collaboration turned vision into impact. MGG grew because of the people who joined, shared ideas, and helped scale programs worldwide. Advice: start small by listening—value what others bring to the table, and create spaces where they can contribute meaningfully.

For anyone starting their journey, I’d say: believe in your vision, be ready to adapt, and never underestimate the power of building with others. Those three things will carry you farther than you think.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes—collaboration is at the heart of everything we do at Mission Green Global. We’re always looking for partners who share our vision of making climate action accessible, engaging, and solution-driven for youth everywhere. That could mean fellow nonprofits, schools, businesses, or even individual changemakers who want to co-create programs, expand our global reach, or bring fresh ideas into our work.

We especially love working with people who are bold enough to set ambitious goals, open to trying new approaches, and committed to empowering the next generation of climate and policy leaders.

If you’re someone who believes deeply, works with optimism, and isn’t afraid to push boundaries to create impact, we’d love to connect. You can reach us through our website missiongreenglobal.org, find us on social media, or reach out to me directly—I believe the best partnerships start with a conversation.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Mission Green Global Chapters and Headquarters

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