Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
When Thandiwe was eight years old, her school was forced to close because there were not enough teachers. Many of the teachers at the school had become sick with a disease called AIDS and were no longer able to teach. Disappointed that she could no longer go to school to learn and see her friends, Thandiwe decided to research how she could change this.
Thandiwe learnt that it was a human right to have an education. To get an education, Thandiwe gathered the other 60 students from her school together and led them in a march to another local school. Thandiwe spoke to the head teacher and begged that they would welcome Thandiwe and her classmates into the school. The school agreed to accept them, but their building was not big enough, so they had to sit outside.
Before long, Thandiwe found that learning was difficult in the burning sun and the children could not concentrate. She contacted the government to ask them to help expand the school and they said yes! By Thandiwe urging schools to be built, more children will receive a quality education, setting them up to be the inventors and change-makers of the future.
Thandiwe now lectures at the school, educating children about AIDS and how they can avoid catching it so that no future school children miss out on an education because their teachers are sick. Thandiwe’s determination and pro-active actions changed the lives of so many people who did not feel able to speak up.
Her actions were then recognised when she won the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2007. Thandiwe’s advice to other young change-makers is to ‘Speak out and let yourself be heard, be strong and do not stop.’
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.
