Mumbai based Social Entrepreneur Smita Kharbanda shares her Entrepreneurial Journey on International Women's Day

Every year, March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day across the world to promote women’s rights and honour their achievements across the political, economic, social and cultural spheres.

This day is a reminder of the grit and determination of women all across the world.
There is no force more powerful than a woman’s determination to rise.

Every life begins with a woman. Respect and encourage every woman for what she is. Women, are always respected, loved and appreciated.

Theme of Hello Womeniya.com this year on International Women’s Day 2023 is…
“To promote entrepreneurship culture among women entrepreneurs across globe.”

Women Social entrepreneurship is vital for our future. Collectively we can make a change by closing the gap between men and women in the workforce.
Entrepreneurs are those adventurous, daredevils who drive deep into the pressing problems of society and try to find solutions to them, not by leaving the responsibilities in the reins of the government or business, but by trying to change systems as a whole and persuading societies to take new initiatives.

In honor of International Women’s Day, we are introducing you to a very dynamic and popular social entrepreneur from Mumbai for her remarkable and outstanding performance in the social field. Yes, we are talking about Smita Kharbanda, a social entrepreneur and founder of EcoKids. She shares her entrepreneurial journey with HelloWomeniya.com.

Smita Kharbanda:

Famous As: Social Entrepreneur

Startup Name: EcoKids

Based: Mumbai

Hello Womeniya: Could you Introduce yourself for our readers.

I, Smita Kharbanda am from Patna where I grew amidst Nature and suddenly after marriage, I landed in this concrete jungle called MUMBAI where the thought of growing vegetables and fruits in an apartment was absolutely a No and the Urban child had no clue where vegetables come from – they thought from the vegetable Market.

EcoKids is an initiative to inculcate interactive learning and caring for Mother Earth in every child’s heart. Through interactive learning, EcoKids promises you sunshine memories, interesting games, creativity galore and fun-filled times in the lap of Mother Nature.

An avid nature lover, I began working for an eco-awareness Company in 1995 and gradually it blossomed into EcoKids in 2008. Since then, EcoKids has leaped from garden to garden and spread its wings in promoting gardening, vermiculture, eco-friendly birthday parties, eco-friendly gifting and above all sensitizing our children to the bounty of Mother Nature.

EcoKids thrives to connect the soul to the soil where every child learns the value of being a responsible and sensitive citizen of this planet This is our home and we must love, care and protect for it. Every child could make a diﬀerence and through EcoKids, a child not just learns to give back but also enjoys his rendezvous with nature and the environment.

Hello Womeniya: What Inspired to start your Business.

The fact that eco awareness was absolutely at a low and kids did not realize how long a potato takes to grow or a lemon therefore the minute they grow it and realize the whole eﬀorts involved next time they waste food the thought comes in and their outlook towards food changes.

Our gardens can be the playground to millions of children blending science with nature, logic with love, thus giving birth to an entire generation of intelligent, caring and happy people.

Hello Womeniya: Tell Something about your Start-up and how people can beneﬁt from it.

EcoKids thrives to connect the soul to the soil where every child learns the value of being a responsible and sensitive citizen of this planet. This is our home and we must love, care and protect for it. Every child could make a diﬀerence and through EcoKids, a child not just learns to give back but also enjoys his rendezvous with nature and the environment.

Hello Womeniya: Where Does your Inspiration come from.

Inspiration comes from the huge deficit the kids are facing today because they are not aware of the need to replenish instead of depleting from MOTHER EARTH. Kids are not at Fault -it’s because they have not been exposed to the natural and holistic ways of life, so it is our duty to Teach them Good Habits which will benefit their lives. We Started EcoKids in 2008 and since then there has been no Looking Back, The Name of My Company is Self-Explanatory – EcoKids. We are looking to build an Environmentally conscious GEN next who understand the need to Preserve and Conserve and also be Responsible to leave this Planet in a Good Condition for later GENERATIONS.

The URBAN child has no idea about how to grow vegetables, or how important Soil is and how we can create a GREEN WORLD Without Destroying Nature.

Kids are not at Fault it’s because they have not been exposed to the natural and holistic ways of life, so it is our duty to Teach them Good Habits which will benefit their lives. We Started EcoKids in 2008 and since then there has been No Looking Back,

It became like a Green Movement lots of Urban Kids benefitted, whether it was a Connect with Soil or Plucking out Potatoes from the bosom of Mother Earth or even making a Terrarium as a part of a birthday. The benefits were immense.

Word of Mouth was and is my biggest Promoter.

MY BIGGEST HIGH IS WHEN a city bred kid grows some vegetables, harvests them and actually eats it as a part of his meal.

THE CIRCLE OF LIFE FOR ME IS COMPLETE. WHEN YOU GARDEN YOU GROW

Word of Mouth was and is my biggest Promoter.

Hello Womeniya: How you balance your professional and personal life.

MY family has always supported my work got my Family’s support as this was a passion which would benefit Society at large so my Husband and Daughters fully Supported me through whichever way they could. Whether it meant not going for vacations very often as during holidays I would run Gardening and Farm to Table Holiday Camps or missing social events as I was always Committed for work. My FAMILY UNDERSTOOD MY WORK CAME FIRST.

Hello Womeniya: What advice would you give to someone who are aspiring Women Entrepreneur

Follow your dreams. Never give up.

Nothing you do goes waste Benefits always follow.

My own personal experiences and challenges have inspired me to grow and learn. I believe that every obstacle or setback can be an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.