From Idea to Impact: How a team from Solution Challenge launched an environmentally-focused social enterprise

Aysu Keçeci, a student from Turkey, spearheaded the development of the WE app, a social enterprise initiative aimed at addressing plastic pollution in oceans by leveraging the Google Developer Student Clubs (GDSCs) platform. Motivated by her deep connection to the sea and concerns about the growing plastic waste, Aysu and her team participated in the 2021 Solution Challenge and a local hackathon, which led to the creation of an app that promotes plastic recycling through gamification. This app allows users to earn rewards by recycling plastic and engaging in challenges, utilizing technologies like Flutter, Firebase, and Google Maps for its operation. Their effort not only won the hackathon but also gained traction by being selected as one of the top 50 projects in the Solution Challenge, earning them mentorship from Google developers and acceptance into Turkey's İTÜ Çekirdek Incubation Center. The team has partnered with Borusan Mannesmann to implement the app and is exploring further collaborations to expand their impact, including designing stylish recycling bins and creating products from recycled plastics. Aysu credits the supportive and innovative culture of GDSC for their progress and encourages others to join the initiative to make a difference.