Press Release: Meet 30 Inspiring Young Environmental Educators Shaping Tomorrow

For Immediate Release

The North American Association for Environmental Education announces its new class of 30 passionate leaders under the age of thirty and representing 19 countries.

[Washington, D.C., August 14, 2024] At the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), we believe in the power of amazing young leaders to create positive change in communities around the world. We are excited to announce our ninth class of innovative leaders under age 30 who are using environmental education (EE) to tackle the biggest issues facing our planet.

The 30 awardees in this year’s EE 30 Under 30 Class of 2024 range in age from 21 to 30, hail from 19 countries, and work with a wide range of audiences to tackle complex environmental and social issues in their communities. From sharing Indigenous voices and knowledge through visual storytelling in the Philippines to equipping young people as environmental leaders through hackathons in Argentina to coordinating youth climate summits in Ghana, their collective work is reaching more than 300,000 people each year, many of whom are on the frontlines of climate crises.

As EE 30 Under 30, these exceptional young leaders in EE will not only create change in their communities but also inspire and mentor others with their commitment to meaningful change. The Class of 2024 will join the global EE 30 Under 30 community of passionate and forward-thinking leaders and will receive ongoing support through networking, peer mentoring, global recognition, grant opportunities, and professional development.

Since 2016, NAAEE's EE 30 Under 30 program has recognized 271 individuals from 53 countries who are making a difference through environmental education. This program is made possible by NAAEE, the Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), and the U.S. Forest Service.

The award has had a tremendous impact on these young leaders. “Being recognized as an EE 30 Under 30 was a significant milestone, a pivotal moment in my career, that opened doors to incredible opportunities I had never imagined. I am profoundly grateful to the NAAEE team and the environmental education community for their daily inspiration and guidance, which have shaped me as the educator and leader that I am today. To the Class of 2024, may this recognition inspire you to continue advancing and enriching the valuable work you are doing with your projects,” says Tomas Teicher, EE 30 Under 30 2023.

Executive Director of NAAEE Judy Braus says, “We are honored to recognize and celebrate young people working at the forefront of environmental and social change. These 30 innovators and influencers are using environmental education and their ingenuity to build healthier and more just communities around the world. Join us in congratulating NAAEE’s EE 30 Under 30 Class of 2024!”

Learn more about this year’s winners, listed below, by reading their biographies on our website: naaee.org/programs/ee-30-under-30

Ajay Sawant, India, 22; Alvian Wardhana, Indonesia, 22; Amy Bray, United Kingdom, 21; Birndze Bete Dzekewong, Cameroon, 30; CJ Greco, USA, 28; Cristina Poggio, Guatemala, 21; Dajawn Williams, USA, 28; Favour Eragbie Ochuwa, Nigeria, 23; Greta Delfino, United Kingdom, 25; Holly (Hao) Liou, Taiwan, 24; Jiapsi Gomez, USA, 25; Katarína Zvaríková, Slovakia, 30; Khou Jerome, Malaysia, 28; kier blake, USA; Kristine Belashvili, Georgia, 29; Luke Ehler, Canada, 30; Luke James Gibbons, Ireland, 27; Margaret Impraim, Ghana, 30; Martin Griffin, Argentina, 29; Mmachukwu Loretta Obimdike, Nigeria, 30; Nuria Mohamed Salim, Kenya, 29; Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette, USA, 29; Richard Muraya, Kenya, 28; Robert Mansaloon Cahapon, Philippines, 30; Samintang, Indonesia, 23; Sharan V, India, 30; Sol Reiman, Argentina, 25; Sonya Peres, United Kingdom, 29; Thanh Nga Nguyen, Vietnam, 26; Zuhura Ahmad, Tanzania, 25
 

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About NAAEE

For more than five decades, the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) has served as the professional association, champion, and backbone organization for the field of environmental education (EE), working with EE professionals across United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as globally, to advance environmental literacy and civic engagement to create a more equitable and sustainable future. For more information on NAAEE, visit https://naaee.org.