11 year-old Alice Wanjiru has been named the first-place winner in the 2025 International Young Eco-Hero Award.
Wanjiru who hails from Nairobi, Kenya is one of the fifteen young environmental activists from across the globe to receive the award announced by Action for Nature.
She won first place in the award, which honors eco-conscious youth ages 8 to 16 who are taking crucial steps to solve tough environmental problems.
Focused on the rehabilitation of the Ruai Sewer Treatment Plant in Nairobi, Wanjiru has led efforts to plant over 2,000 trees around the sewer plant, significantly improving air quality and reducing respiratory illnesses like bronchitis and asthma among residents, especially children.
She also successfully petitioned the Nairobi County Government to prioritize the sewer plant’s rehabilitation.
Winners of the International Young Eco-Hero Award are selected by a panel of independent judges, including experts in environmental science, biology, and education.
For the past 22 years, Action For Nature has recognized 360 Eco-Heroes from 40 countries and 39 U.S. states.
“While leaders worldwide struggle to protect the environment, global youth activists constantly remind us that transformative change often starts small. From Burundi to San Antonio, Texas, this year’s Eco-Heroes are another powerful reminder that the future of our planet is in good hands,” said Beryl Kay, president of Action for Nature “By honoring the trailblazing work of young environmental activists worldwide, we are celebrating the hope, creativity, and passion we all need to harness in order to protect the Earth.”
“Nothing is small or insignificant if it makes a positive impact,” Wanjiru added, “When we mobilize for plastic clean-ups, we’re not only fostering hope for Kenyan youth, but also for a healthier future for a community long suffering from environmental neglect.”
To learn more about Wanjiru’s work, visit greenhummingbird.co.ke.
