A day for children, by children.
In conjunction with World Children’s Day today, makchic celebrates several amazing young changemakers who are making a difference in the world today. Here are the stories of 12 inspirational kids and youth (including 6 homegrown heroes) who are paving the way for a brighter future ahead.
1. Melati and Isabel Wijsen
Where: Bali, Indonesia
What: Environment, Education
Outcome: Bye Bye Plastic Bags, Youthopia
“Find that one thing that you’re incredibly passionate about, that you think about 24/7.”
The epitome of the power of young voices for change. These two teenage sisters founded the activism group Bye Bye Plastic Bags in Bali, resulting in the official ban of plastic bags on the island after 6 tireless years. The movement was launched when the duo were merely at a tender age of 10 and 12! The journey has led them to launch Youthopia (a peer to peer empowerment ‘headquarters’ for young global changemakers) and meeting countless young people who are similarly seeking to make a change.
2. Jordan Mittler
Where: New York, USA
What: Technology, Educator
Outcome: Mittler Senior Technology
“Not understanding technology is already isolating for seniors, particularly those living alone.”
The pandemic has led to many of our elderly loved ones having to learn the ropes within a painfully short time frame. Enter this inspiring teen. Jordan Mittler was only 12 when he realised the need for simple tech education to help the older generation keep up with the increasingly connected modern world. He has since founded Mittler Senior Technology, a hands-on social media and communication technology program that offers professional education for seniors.
3. Payal Jangid
Where: Rajasthan, India
What: Children’s rights
Outcome: Abolishment of child marriage in Hinsla
“Many resign themselves to the way things are, far too easily. Everyone must challenge injustice and not run away or hide from problems.”
11-year-old Payal from Hinsla, India prevented her own child marriage and went on to prevent the child marriage of her sister. Under the mentorship of Noble Peace Prize winner, Kailash Satyarthi, she then became dedicated to combatting social injustices such as domestic abuse, child labour, and child marriage. Her efforts have helped her village become free of child marriages, and in 2019, she was awarded a Goalkeepers Changemaker Award, the youngest Changemaker awardee at the tender age of 17.
4. Genesis Butler
Where: California, USA
What: Animal Rights
Outcome: Genesis for Animals, Youth Climate Save
“Not eating animal products will not only save animals, but it will help stop much of the damage we have done to the earth.”
Genesis was 3 when she found out where her chicken nuggets came from and made the decision to became vegetarian. She became vegan at 6 when she discovered the milk she was drinking came from cows. This young animal rights advocate has since gone on to become the youngest speaker at TEDx Talks (4 years ago), joined the Social Compassion in Legislation’s (SCIL) board of directors, became a real-life Marvel hero (how cool is that?) and was named Young Animal Activist of the Year 2019 by PETA.
5. Kelvin Doe (aka DJ Focus)
Where: Sierra Leone
What: Engineer, Inventor
Outcome: K-Doe Tech, Inc
“The more I’m able to empower myself, the more I can do things that sustain the world as a whole.”
This 1996-born child prodigy built a generator from scrap metals at age 10 in his hometown that often lacked electricity and water. He taught himself engineering by age 13, proceeding to create a community radio station by building a radio transmitter, three-channel mixer, and microphone receiver at age 15. His efforts at self-learning and teaching has since led to a host of opportunities and accomplishments, including being the youngest participant invited to the “Visiting Practitioner’s Program” at MIT in the USA.
6. Autumn Peltier
Where: Canada
What: Clean water
Outcome: Assembly of First Nations creating the Niabi (water) Odacidae Fund
“…we can’t eat money, or drink oil.”
We can see why this Anishinaabe Indigenous clean water advocate is also dubbed as the ‘water warrior’! Speaking up in courage set young Autumn on her path toward becoming a leading global youth environmental activist. In 2016, at 12 years of age, she famously publicly criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s clean-water policies in a face-to-face meeting, boldly (and passionately) stating that she was “…very unhappy with the choices [he] made.” She has since spoken on water issues at the United Nations, and was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Malaysia
We turn now to our young local heroes who are shaping and shaking the world around them:
7. Ain Husniza Saiful Nizam
What: Standing against rape culture, misogny and sexual harassment in school
Outcome: The #MakeSchoolASaferPlace movement
“We can’t let this cycle of abuse continue in our schools.”
This brave 17-year-old exposed a rape joke said to have been made by her male physical education teacher in a TikTok video that quickly garnered nationwide (and international) attention. The video led to an outpouring of a #MeToo online response amongst fellow victims of school-based harassment and violence. Despite pushback on social media, rape and death threats and warnings of expulsion from school (not to mention a lawsuit filed by the teacher in question), Ain Husniza has continued to stand firm and advocate for greater safety in schools and across our nation. As one of just seven people from the region, she was invited to speak at a virtual UN conference on “ending violence against children during Covid-19 and beyond”.
8. Harsha Ravindran
What: Social Entrepreneur
Outcome: Ascendance, StartMyName.com
“Build the person before you build the business.”
At a young age of 11, Harsha followed her single mother to talk shows by ET Ideas, a social incubator that develops entrepreneurs to solve world problems collectively and at its root cause. Since then, she has pushed herself personally, going from leaps and bounds. She co-founded a prestigious award-winning youth movement and a social start-up that provides affordable digital solutions. The future looks bright for young Harsha!
9. Celeste Chung
What: Gender equality, Education
Outcome: Youth for the Future
“Anything a male can do, a girl can do too.”
As one of the few girls studying STEM in her class, Sabah-born Celeste is passionate about balancing the gender gap in education. She founded Youth for the Future, holding different workshops around the region, and channelling its profits towards sponsoring children to school. This 16-year-old is also one of the finalists of the Tuanku Bainun Young Changemaker Awards 2020.
10. Zyson Kang Zy Shun
What: NASA’s Lunar Loo Challenge
Outcome: First prize winner and junior inventor
“He never gave up until he succeeded.” *Zyson’s Coach
The challenge? Design a toilet for astronauts that can operate on the moon, ahead of NASA’s next lunar mission in 2024. Young 9-year-old inventor Zyson Kang designed a “Spacesuit Lunar Toilet” invention, winning the top prize in the Junior category, which saw 897 entries from children of 85 countries!
11. Celine Chuang
What: Footballer
Outcome: First Malaysian woman to play with German Bayern Munich
“There needs to be improvements. I think there are still so many people who look down on women’s football in Malaysia.”
Who ever said that girls can’t play football? Breaking stereotypes, this gutsy 16-year-old girl’s presence on her football team has been said to ‘put pressure on the boys’. She started playing professionally just four years ago at the Persatuan Sukan Bintang Biru (PSBB) in Penang, and has since been signed to the U-17 FC Bayern women’s second quad team. Celine hopes that her success can lead to promises of better infrastructure for young female athletes.
12. Nurul Rifayah Muhammad Iqbal
What: Politician, Teen Activist
Outcome: Undi 18
“Everyone deserves the right to education.”
From best debater in the ‘Debaton Parliament 2019’ (Youth), to a central executive committee member of political party MUDA and an instrumental figure in the championing of the Undi18 movement, 18-year-old Nurul‘s impressive efforts have helped to successfully move the voting age for Malaysians from 21 to 18, starting January 2022). She remains passionate about education reform, and aims to be a champion for Malaysian students.
May the voices of our children and youth continue to inspire and champion a better future ahead for our nation. Happy World Children’s Day, #makchicmumtribe!
