Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
Lily is 11 and lives in Portugal. She loves the ocean. Most days you’ll find her swimming and exploring marine life.
One day, Lily learned about a plan to build the world’s first industrial (very large-scale) octopus farm in the Canary Islands. She felt shocked. Octopuses are clever and sentient (they can feel and think), so treating them like objects in a harmful farming environment didn’t feel right. Lily decided she wouldn’t just worry about it—she would use her swimming skills and voice to raise awareness, funds, and support for octopus protection.
She launched and completed a project called “The Octo-Defender Challenge”, where she swam 2 kilometres in the Atlantic Ocean and raised over $12,000 (nearly £9,000) for Compassion in World Farming, all while raising awareness about the dangers of octopus farming. Lily also spoke to people in legislators (people who make laws), testified (spoke in official meetings) in several U.S. states and supported the federal (national) Octopus Act so more adults would listen and act.
Next, Lily was one of the founders of Generation Blue with the organisation One Ocean Planet, which has supported and accompanied her throughout her journey. Generation Blue is a student-led club that helps other young people protect the ocean. They share simple ways to get started, encourage each other, and turn small ideas into real projects. Lily often reminds her friends that you don’t have to wait until you’re older to make a difference.
Lily has big plans for the future: continuing to speak out against octopus farming in the U.S. and internationally, while expanding Generation Blue so that more young people can lead their own ocean-saving ideas. She is also an ambassador for One Ocean Planet and leads the Hero Kids project, working alongside other young changemakers, learning new skills, and mentoring younger kids, so that even more voices join the wave for a kinder ocean.
Lily’s advice to other young people is to follow your passion and believe in your ability to make a difference, no matter your age. Start by learning about the issue you care about, and don’t be shy to reach out to experts and organisations for support. Use your voice and skills, whether it’s through social media, presentations, or community engagement, to advocate for change. Remember, every small action can lead to big impacts!
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