Campaigning for world leaders to act on climate change since she was 15 years old.
When Zach was 6 years old, Hurricane Charley struck near his home in Tampa, Florida. One day while listening to the radio, he heard a report about the devastating effects of the hurricane. He turned to his sister and said he wanted to help. That evening, they made flyers asking people to donate food, water and extra supplies, telling them that he would come and collect the donations the next day.
The following day, Zach walked around his neighbourhood towing his little red wagon in which he collected donations. The day was such a success that Zach continued for four whole months, until donations were no longer needed. In those four months he collected enough donations to fill his mother’s pickup truck 27 times. When it was over, Zach realised how much he loved the feeling of helping others and decided to do more.
Zach decided to put all the walking training he had done to good use, by doing a 280-mile leg of a walk from his house in Tampa. This later turned into an even longer walk, all the way to the White House. The goal was to raise awareness and money for homeless children. Throughout his walk, he stopped and talked to people about homeless children, urging them to help in any way they could.
When he got back, he decided to use his donation collection skills to put together goodie backpacks for homeless kids, known as Zach-packs. In each backpack, Zach put a food pack, personal hygiene kit, first aid kit, a toy and a candy pack. He distributed over 6,000 Zach-packs to homeless children in America. Zach continues to help people in so many ways, taking each day at a time. He says, ‘All you have to do is think, how can I make one person smile today.’
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.
