Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun: A Young Environmentalist’s Mission to Combat Climate Change
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun, a Kenyan teenager, is recognized globally for her tree-planting initiatives aimed at combating climate change, inspired by Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai. Founded in 2017, her organization, “Children With Nature,” strives to empower youth in environmental stewardship, achieving significant milestones in tree planting both in Kenya and abroad. Ellyanne’s advocacy links climate change to health issues like malaria, demonstrating the broader impacts of environmental degradation. With ambitious goals for the future, she exemplifies the potential of young activists to drive meaningful change.
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun, a 14-year-old schoolgirl from Kenya, has gained international recognition for her passionate efforts to combat climate change through tree planting. Inspired by the renowned environmentalist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Prof. Wangari Maathai, Ellyanne began her journey at the young age of four, after learning about Maathai’s incredible contributions to her community. Despite her mother’s initial apprehensions about her aspirations, Ellyanne persisted and founded “Children With Nature,” a not-for-profit organization, in 2017 with the goal of educating and empowering children to make a difference in their environment. By 2020, Ellyanne had personally planted 250,000 trees, contributing to a collective effort that exceeded 1.3 million trees globally, including in countries such as Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to her tree-planting initiatives, she has participated in several campaigns addressing climate change, including the climate summit in Dubai in 2023, where she addressed the connection between climate change and the rise of malaria cases in Kenya. Furthermore, she has appeared in a documentary that addresses the climate crisis’s impact on wildlife. Ellyanne aims to continue her tree-planting endeavors, dreaming of contributing to the “Green Belt” initiative in Africa and aspiring to inspire the planting of one trillion trees worldwide before she turns 18. While acknowledging her educational pursuits, she is committed to her mission, believing in the potential of young individuals to invoke positive change, as exemplified by her mentor’s legacy.
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun has been deeply influenced by the work of Prof. Wangari Maathai, who pioneered tree planting initiatives in Kenya and was the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement, which focused on women’s empowerment through environmental conservation, leading to the planting of millions of trees. Inspired by this legacy, Ellyanne has taken up the mantle of promoting environmental awareness and action, especially among children, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation. Her efforts reflect a new generation’s commitment to sustainability and ecological responsibility.
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun stands as a remarkable figure in the fight against climate change, embodying the spirit of advocacy and action inspired by her late mentor, Prof. Wangari Maathai. Through her grassroots organization and abundant tree-planting efforts, she has mobilized youth involvement in environmental responsibility on a global scale. As she seeks to enhance her impact in the coming years, Ellyanne represents a hopeful and determined future for sustainable practices and climate advocacy, showing that even the youngest voices can lead the charge toward significant ecological change.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
