Young people are changing the world. They are standing up for human rights. They are raising their voices. They are fighting for justice, equality, and kindness. Here are six young heroes who have inspired many.
- Malala Yousafzai – The Girl Who Fought for Education
Malala was born in Pakistan. She loved going to school. But one day, the Taliban banned girls from studying. Malala did not stay silent. She spoke up for girls’ education. She wrote about the struggles of girls in her country. She gave speeches.
In 2012, something terrible happened. A gunman shot Malala on her way home from school. She was badly hurt. But she survived. She did not give up. She became stronger. She continued her fight for education. Malala won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014. She was only 17 years old. Today, she helps girls all over the world go to school. She believes that education can change lives.
- Greta Thunberg – The Voice for Climate Justice
Indeed, Greta hails from Sweden. She started to stay off school on Fridays during her teenage years. She stood in front of the Swedish Parliament. On a placard, she wrote: “School Strike for Climate.”
At first, it was a lonely protest. But soon, thousands of students joined her. They would go out on the street and protest against the action taken by world leaders for the climate. Greta gave powerful speeches. She told leaders to stop making excuses. She asked them to save the planet. People all over the world listened. She proved that one person can make a big difference.
- Kelvin Doe, The Inventor from Sierra Leone
Kelvin grew up in Sierra Leone. It is a small country in Africa. He loved to fix things. He wanted to help his community. But he had no money to buy tools. So, he used trash.
He built his own radio station. He made batteries from old materials. He built a generator to bring electricity to his town. People called him DJ Focus because he never gave up. Kelvin became famous. He was invited to the U.S. He met scientists and engineers. But he never forgot his home. He still works to bring technology to young people in Africa.
- Memory Banda – The Girl Who Fought Child Marriage
Memory grew up in Malawi. Many girls in her village were forced to marry young. Some were only 12 years old. Memory’s own sister was married as a child.
Memory did not want the same life. She refused to marry early. She also wanted to help other girls. She started speaking out. She told leaders to change the law. She told people that girls should go to school, not get married. Because of her efforts, Malawi changed its laws. Child marriage was banned. Now, more girls in Malawi can stay in school and follow their dreams.
- Boyan Slat – The Teen Cleaning the Ocean
Boyan is from the Netherlands. When he was 16, he went diving in the ocean. He saw more plastic than fish. It made him sad. He wanted to fix the problem.
He thought of an idea. He designed a machine to clean up plastic from the sea. He started an organization called The Ocean Cleanup. Many people supported him. His machine is now working in the ocean. It removes tons of plastic. Boyan proves that young people can create real solutions to big problems.
- Amika George – The Girl Fighting Period Poverty
Amika is from the UK. She discovered that many girls in her country missed school because they could not afford sanitary products. She was shocked.
She started a campaign called Free Periods. She wanted the government to provide free sanitary products for students. She protested. She raised awareness. She got support from thousands of people. Her efforts worked. The UK government started giving free sanitary products in schools. Amika showed that small actions can create significant changes. These six young personalities have all done wonders in this world. They didn’t seem to wait for someone else to act. They only believed in their dreams and stood for what is right. There exists a most extraordinary power in every young person! No need for fame, no money is required either! Only require courage, passion and a very strong will!
So, what will you stand for? What change will you make? The whole world is waiting for you.
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Writer
Fardeen Bin Abdullah
Intern, Content Writing Department
YSSE