Sixteen Environmentalists Receive Action for Nature’s 2022 International Young Eco Heroes Award
Young Eco Heroes Award
San Francisco – Today, Action For Nature (AFN) announced its 2022 International Young Eco Heroes Award winners. For they are honoring sixteen young eco heroes award activists from across the globe. That’s for their creative initiatives to tackle the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
For nearly 20 years, the International Young Eco Heroes Awards have annually honored global youth ages 8 to 16 whose work has had a significant impact on raising awareness of environmental issues and finding innovative solutions to tough environmental problems.
“The next generation of leaders is here, and they are taking action across the globe now to address the climate crisis and solve local, national, and global environmental challenges,” said Beryl Kay, president of Action For Nature, an international non-profit organization that encourages young people to nurture a love and respect for the Earth and to take personal action to improve the environment. “The projects that these young people created will have real and important impacts on their communities, help solve global climate challenges, and will inspire others – including adults – to do what they can to help.”
Action For Nature Honors Young Eco-Heroes Award Worldwide
Since 2003, Action For Nature has recognized over 341 young Eco-Heroes from 31 countries and 26 U.S. states. Each year, a panel of independent judges—including experts in biology, environmental science, and education—reviews and selects the most impactful youth-led projects. As a result, these initiatives showcase bold, creative solutions rooted in a shared commitment to protect the planet.
This year, however, the organization introduced two new special awards to honor even more exceptional young leaders.
First, the Shimon Schwarzschild Award celebrates visionary thinking. Named after the founder of Action For Nature, this award goes to a young environmentalist and activist whose ideas reflect Shimon’s passion and long-term vision.
Meanwhile, the Dr. Mary Griffin-Jones Award honors youth who use a different kind of tool—art and literature—to spark change. Named for a physician, author, artist, and founding member of the organization, the award recognizes those who channel their creativity into environmental activism.
Together, these awards highlight the many ways young people lead the fight for a better planet.
Action For Nature Chairperson Kay reflected on this year’s honorees with admiration.
“I am so inspired by the hard work, dedication, and optimism of these young climate activists who show us that we are all in the fight to save our planet together—no matter how old or young we are—and that the time to act is right now.”
These awards remind us that youth are not waiting for change—they’re leading it. One project, one voice, one action at a time.
Virtual Event
The winners will present their work at a virtual event. The 2022 International Young Eco-Hero Awards Conference, anchored in San Francisco on October 15th at 10 am Pacific Time and shared live via Zoom. For more information about how to attend and to RSVP email holly.shulman@gmail.com.
This year’s International Awards go to:
First Prize (Ages 8–12) – Prasiddhi Singh, Age 9
Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, India
Prasiddhi Singh began planting trees when she was just two years old. Since then, her passion for the environment has only grown. By age nine, she had already founded the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation—a youth-led organization committed to large-scale reforestation.
So far, her foundation has planted over 75,000 trees. At the same time, they have created 21 fruit forests and three community nurseries, each capable of holding 25,000 saplings. These spaces not only restore green cover but also provide food and promote biodiversity.
Even more impressively, the foundation is pushing toward its goal of planting 100,000 trees by the end of 2022. Through dedication and teamwork, they continue to make remarkable progress.
Because of her early start and tireless commitment, Prasiddhi has become a role model for youth around the world. Her leadership proves that age is no barrier to bold climate action. Without a doubt, she’s a well-deserving Young Eco-Hero Award winner.
First Prize (13-16 Year-old Category) – Vinisha Umashankar (Age 15, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Charcoal-operated ironing carts are common in Vinisha Umashankar’s neighborhood and other African and Asian countries. Concerned with air pollution and deforestation, Vinisha decided to take advantage of India’s abundance of sunshine. She designed a solar-powered ironing cart that could save millions of trees, reduce pollution, and be less costly than charcoal. Vinisha’s plan is to soon begin production of the carts, starting with twenty in her own town, 100 for the state, and then scale up production for national and overseas distribution.
Second Place (13-16 Year-old Category) – Adhi Daiv (Age 15, Gurugram, Haryana, India)
Adhi Daiv wanted to investigate what could be done to address the lack of water for people, crops, and livestock in desert areas like Rajasthan. He recruited hundreds of volunteers in rural districts to implement the Urvara Initiative, a special method to take advantage of the monsoon season for irrigation. In this irrigation method, a sapling tree is inserted into a deep hole filled with one liter of water. As the climate turns dry, the tree’s roots stretch down into the aquifer, allowing the tree to grow. The aquifer naturally replenishes when the next monsoon season arrives. The project’s pilot phase had great success with a 95% tree survival rate and has saved approximately 725,000 liters of water.
Second Place (13-16 Year-old Category) – Anna DeVolld (Age 16, Soldotna, Alaska, United States)
In 2018, Anna created Promote Our Pollinators (P.O.P.), an environmental program designed to educate her community about the importance of pollinators, why their numbers are declining, and what action can be taken. She designed “Pollinator Packs” – six-pack pots containing six different pollinator-friendly seedlings to be placed in urban areas to attract pollinators. Each spring, she has grown 150 of these packs and distributes them to local businesses and organizations. Her campaigns to raise awareness about pollinators have reached many people through community presentations, public booths, classroom lessons, and social media.
Second Place (8-12 Year-old Category) – Bianca Noyes (Age 11, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States)
When former President Trump reduced the size of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument by one million acres, Bianca Noyes set out to change the fate of the area. She made paintings of Bears Ears and printed up 100 postcards with a message to restore the monument. Bianca wanted to deliver her message to someone who could actually make a difference, so she persuaded presidential candidate Joe Biden to promise to restore full protection for the monument. Bianca, who is now known as the “little girl who persuaded a president,” successfully saved Bears Ears. She has now decided to help Native Americans living at Bears Ears by creating and delivering 250 back-to-school backpacks equipped with hand sanitizer and school supplies.
Second Place (13-16 Year-old Category) – Francisco Marin (age 16, Tegucigalpa, Honduras)
When he was 12 years old, Francisco started a project he called Jum Te Rum, which means “paper, tree, earth” in the Mayan Chorti language. His aim was to help the environment through reforestation, recycling, and raising awareness among young people about climate change. Francisco raised enough money from gathering and selling one thousand pounds of recycled paper to purchase 150 mahogany tree saplings, which were planted in areas damaged by deforestation. Now, he’s launched a campaign in support of a government declaration to change Honduran school curricula to include lessons about climate change.
Second Place (Ages 8–12) – Sawyer Anderson, Age 12
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
After hearing about children in Zambia without clean water, Sawyer Anderson felt moved to act. Her father told her that $50 could provide water for one person for life. That fact sparked a mission—and soon a nonprofit.
Sawyer founded Water Works, a volunteer-driven effort to bring safe drinking water to Zambian villages. With the help of church volunteers, she began sewing and selling bags made from African Chitenge fabrics. In less than a year, she raised $26,000 to build clean water wells.
To date, Sawyer has raised over $1 million, funded 72 wells, and helped save 22,000 lives. Her work continues to inspire global action—one stitch and one well at a time.
Third Place (Ages 8–12) – Cash Daniels & Ella Rossen, Age 12
Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States
Cash Daniels and Ella Rossen made it their mission to clean the planet. They launched the “One Million Piece Pickup,” a campaign to remove a million pieces of trash from the environment.
With help from peers across the U.S., Canada, and the Bahamas, they’ve already passed the halfway mark. Their grassroots movement empowers youth to act, proving that every piece of litter removed brings us closer to a cleaner world.
Third Place (Ages 8–12) – Henry Day, Age 8
Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England
At just 8 years old, Henry Day is using his voice—and his camera—to protect nature. He created the YouTube channel “Naturetastic with Henry,” where he shares outdoor adventures, wildlife stories, and practical conservation tips.
With over 50 videos and thousands of views, Henry brings environmental education to kids everywhere. He also partners with The Wildlife Trust to produce educational films that promote biodiversity and nature protection in his region.
Third Place (Ages 13–16) – Jessica Ong, Age 16
San Diego, California, United States
Jessica Ong was stunned by the amount of waste she saw after moving from Thailand to the U.S. She discovered that 80% of usable toys end up in landfills within 6 months. That sparked a movement.
In 2020, Jessica founded Toys2Care, a program that redirects gently used toys from affluent homes to families in need. Since launching, she’s reached over 100,000 families in San Diego, ensuring children receive gifts for birthdays and holidays—and keeping toys out of landfills.
Her project turns waste into joy while promoting reuse and community care.
Third Place (Ages 13–16) – Sushil John Amalor, Age 16
Nairobi, Kenya
In 2018, Sushil John Amalor and his family faced severe food insecurity. They survived on fruit from nearby trees and the kindness of neighbors. That experience changed him. He realized many others were struggling too—and he knew he had to help.
Sushil began with small fundraisers like bake sales and car washes. Then he took a bold step. He planted 2,500 fruit trees on the outskirts of Nairobi. These trees—pawpaw, avocado, mango, and orange—soon produced enough fruit to launch a community food bank.
But he didn’t stop there. Sushil partnered with local supermarkets and restaurants to collect edible food destined for the trash. He redirected it to people in need. This program not only feeds families but also cuts methane emissions from food waste.
Through determination and creativity, Sushil turned hardship into hope. His work strengthens the community and heals the environment—one fruit tree at a time.
Young people receiving honorable mentions include:
Honorable Mention – David Yoon, Age 16
Greenville, North Carolina, United States
In 2019, David Yoon launched Plastic Free NC, a youth-led group focused on tackling environmental challenges through mentorship and service. Although he was just 16, David turned concern into action. As a result, he built a platform that empowers young people to lead.
Within only three years, the organization also mentored over 250 youth and made a clear impact on local communities. Meanwhile, Plastic Free NC helped donate 30,000 pounds of fresh produce to more than 400 at-risk families across North Carolina.
At the same time, the group raised $2,500 to support student-led environmental projects. Additionally, they distributed over 625 awareness stickers nationwide—amplifying messages about sustainability and environmental justice.
Because of his vision, David proves that leadership has no age limit. Through Plastic Free NC, he continues educating, supporting, and mobilizing youth. Together, they are building a greener, more just future—one action at a time.
Honorable Mention – Sparsh (Age 16, Patna, Bihar, India)
Sparsh has had an interest in solving the renewable energy dilemma since he was young. His Thermal Floater device efficiently converts thermal energy from the sun into electrical energy using a complex yet small mechanical system that can generate up to 10 kWh of electricity per day.
Honorable Mention – Vedant Janapaty, Age 16
San Jose, California, United States
Massive wildfires have scorched over 4.5 million acres across California. They released toxic fumes, overwhelmed fire crews, and devastated communities. In response, Vedant Janapaty decided to act.
He began by using satellite data and machine learning to identify high-risk fire zones. His models analyze geographic patterns that contribute to wildfires. As a result, agencies can plan and respond before disaster strikes.
Vedant’s research uncovered a key insight: non-native plants increase fire risk. Because of this, he partnered with Grassroots Ecology and the Elkhorn Slough Foundation. Together, they work to remove invasive species from vulnerable areas.
At the same time, Vedant promotes proactive land management. This includes thinning fuel loads and restoring native vegetation to build long-term resilience.
Although the threat of mega-fires continues to grow, Vedant’s work offers hope. By combining science with community action, he protects both people and ecosystems—and shows what youth leadership can achieve.
Linh Nguyen’s Mission to Protect Forests Grows from Page to Action
Since sixth grade, Linh Nguyen has dreamed of protecting trees. That dream grew into her book, A Little Piece of Forest for You. It introduces children to the wonders of forests—the trees, plants, and animals that thrive there. More importantly, it explains why their protection matters.
Because of its heartfelt message, the book quickly found success. The first 2,000 copies sold out, and now it is already in its second printing. However, Linh didn’t stop with writing. She acted. She donated over $4,000 in profits to the Forest Plantation Fund, which supports reforestation in Meo Vac District of Vietnam’s Ha Giang Province, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.
Even better, Linh continues to champion her mission in person. She visits schools and community festivals. There, she promotes her book while also raising awareness about forest conservation.
Through both storytelling and bold action, she inspires the next generation to care for the earth—one young reader at a time.
Shimon Schwarzschild Award – Diana Michaelson (Age 16, Long Beach, California, United States)
After a long-fought campaign that she launched in 2020, Diana persuaded the Long Beach Unified School District in California to adopt a resolution to implement 100% clean energy by 2030. Therefore, they are committing the district to a transition off fossil fuels. But success didn’t happen overnight, and it wasn’t easy. Diana also organized other students and as well reached out to some of the most powerful people in the district for support. She also obtained petition signatures, secured coalition partners, and also definitely gained community support.
People also receiving notable mentions for the Young Eco Heroes Award include:
Kean Dao and Sunook Yoon, both age 16, Winterville, North Carolina, United States
Deeya Viradia, age 16, San Jose, California, United States
Dipta Darma, age 15, Bali, Indonesia
Roman Phillips, age 16, Fort Mills, South Carolina, United States
Tristin Anderson, age 9, Stockton, County Durham, England
Finally, to learn more about the Young Eco Heroes Award and this year’s winners, read about all of their projects, access high-res images, and view the winners’ project videos, visit www.actionfornature.org.
