Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
In 2014, the city of Flint in Michigan (USA) switched its drinking water supply from Lake Huron to the Flint River to save money. Soon after, residents of Flint began to feel sick and reported that the water smelt, looked and tasted bad. But local officials refused to accept it and claimed the water was fine. Lead contamination of the drinking water was soon found to be the cause.
8-year-old Mari could not bear to sit and watch these effects happen to her city and its people without acting. She wrote a letter to President Obama asking him to visit the city and inspect the crisis for himself. President Obama read her letter and decided to come and visit. After his visit, President Obama sent $100 million (around £74 million) of relief to the city. Some of this money was used to buy a million bottles of bottled water so the people of Flint would not have to use the contaminated water.
But Mari soon noticed that residents were not recycling these bottles and that was bad for the environment. Not willing to just be happy with what she had already accomplished, Mari teamed up with Hydroviv to create a water filter that filters out lead and bacteria, making tap water safe. Plastic bottles could be eliminated and people could start to drink tap water safely.
Mari is now raising money to help donate these filters to families who need them all over America. She believes that everyone can use their passions to make a change. Mari says, ‘Use your voice, make your voice be heard, speak on topics that mean the world to you.’
Campaigning for access to clean water for Canada’s indigenous communities since she was 8 years old.
Raising awareness of the effects of the Syrian civil war and calling for peace since she was 6 years old.
Challenging the representation of girls and women in society since she was 11 years old.
Running a marathon in 10 days to raise money for homeless people when he was 7 years old.
Fundraising for the farmers whose incomes have been affected by drought in Australia since he was 11 years old.
Inspiring girls to learn about and aspire to work in science and technology subjects since she was 16 years old.
Creating and growing a bank that helps children save money by recycling since he was 12 years old.
Designing technology to supply electricity and water without emitting greenhouse gases since he was 15 years old.
Campaigning for the banning of plastic bags in Bali since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Designing a solar powered ironing cart to reduce charcoal burning in India since she was 12 years old.
Petitioning for schools to give children reusable water bottles since he was 7 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
Set up organisations supporting cancer patients, people in poverty, and promoting golf in young black girls, since she was 10 years old.
Saving the lives of hundreds of hedgehogs in the UK since they were 9 years old.
Campaigning to promote proper battery disposal and recycling since he was 10 years old.
Campaigning for people and businesses to stop using single-use plastics since they were 10 and 12 years old.
The world’s youngest sustainability advocate – working to make the world a better place since she was 3 years old.
Solving the problem of water contamination using science and technology since she was 11 years old.
