In brief
At just 14, Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun from Kenya has garnered international attention for her environmental advocacy, drawing inspiration from Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai. Her journey began at four, captivated by Maathai's tree-planting legacy and environmental efforts. This passion led Ellyanne to plant a quarter-million trees herself and found Children With Nature, a non-profit fostering youth involvement in environmental conservation. Ellyanne's achievements include speaking at global summits and collaborating with notable figures in climate change campaigns. Embodying resilience and ambition, she dreams of catalyzing the planting of one trillion trees worldwide by age 18, continuing to push the boundaries of youth-led environmental activism.
Growing up in Kenya, Ellyanne's early inspiration came from learning about Nobel laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, a renowned environmentalist and tree planter. Despite her mother's initial reservations about Ellyanne pursuing the same bold path as Maathai, young Ellyanne was determined to make a difference. Over the years, she not only planted numerous trees herself but also inspired a community of global tree enthusiasts to exceed the million-tree mark, reaching countries like Uganda, Poland, and Morocco. Through her organization, Children With Nature, launched in 2017, Ellyanne engages children globally in environmental conservation, emphasizing the ability to effect change regardless of location.Her environmental activism has taken her worldwide, participating in significant climate events and contributing to documentaries highlighting climate change's impact. Notably, Ellyanne's engagement with high-profile figures and organizations has helped amplify her message, emphasizing the urgent need to address climate change. Now, Ellyanne envisions returning to her roots in tree planting, aspiring to participate in Africa's Green Belt project to counter desertification by establishing vast tree plantations stretching from Senegal to Djibouti. Balancing academics and activism, Ellyanne's clarity of purpose reflects her belief that anything is achievable, setting sights on inspiring a global movement to combat environmental challenges and protecting our planet for future generations.
