Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
When Ryan was six years old, he learnt that not everyone could just turn a tap on and get clean water. Some people around the world had to walk hours to get water that wasn’t even good and made them sick. Ryan wanted to change this. He begged his parents for money to donate to build a well if he did extra chores.
After four months, Ryan had raised $70 (around £52) out of the $2,000 (about £1,400) needed to build a well. If he continued at this rate, it would take nine-and-a-half years for Ryan to raise enough money to build a well. He realised if he wanted to solve the problem, he needed to bring a team of people together.
So Ryan called headteachers and other leaders in community groups and asked if he could come and visit. Ryan went from place to place, reaching out to as many people as he could about the problem. He asked them to help raise money for his first well at Angolo Primary School in Uganda.
After achieving his first target and feeling even more motivated than before, Ryan set up Ryan’s Well Foundation. Twenty years later, the Ryan’s Well Foundation has completed 1,531 water projects, bringing safe water and sanitation to 1,109,193 people! Ryan says, ‘My advice to anyone is that, in order to make a positive change in the world, you need to find something you are passionate about and then you need to take steps to act.’
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.
