PGC 2025 FINALISTS

Congratulations to the Project Green Challenge 2025 Finalists, an extraordinary group of 14 high school, college, and graduate students and their teams, representing eight countries. We honor these inspired and mobilized young leaders.

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Aarush Mahajan, Team Action for World

Senior, GG International School, Pune, India

Aarush is a student at GG International School in Pune, Maharashtra, India, and part of PGC Team Action for World. His interests span space exploration, climate action, and the intersection of technology and mathematics. Aarush co-led Cosmox Blogs to uplift science communication and innovation. He represents his team’s collective vision for a sustainable future, grounded in curiosity, collaboration, and impact.

Anas Muhammad

Sophomore, Madhupur Shahid Smrity Higher Secondary School, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Anas is a high school student from Madhupur, Bangladesh, studying at Madhupur Shahid Smrity Higher Secondary School. Guided by a vision for a fairer and greener world, he brings together interests in climate action, youth leadership, politics, and community development to inspire change. Anas believes true leadership means using one’s voice to stand up for people and the planet. He dreams of uniting communities and helping lead Bangladesh toward a sustainable, just, and empowered future.

Asongu Awung Cyril Smith

Graduate Student, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

Awungafac is a veterinary medicine student and environmental advocate from Buea, Cameroon, studying at the University of Buea. He bridges science, creativity, and community through projects that promote sustainability, animal welfare, and youth empowerment. His experiences as a student leader and fashion model have shaped his ability to turn ideas into impact. Awungafac’s work reflects his belief that caring for life in all forms is both a duty and an art.

Carolina Svetlana Novillo Bravo

Sophomore, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador

Carolina is a student at Universidad del Azuay in Cuenca, Ecuador, passionate about sustainability, social justice, and climate action. She studies International Studies, combining her interest in global relations with a commitment to local impact. During Project Green Challenge, she founded Save & Share, a youth-led initiative focused on reducing food waste and supporting vulnerable families. Carolina believes change begins with empathy, and that small, consistent actions can transform entire communities.

Cassandra Jordan

Freshman, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA

Cassandra is a freshman at Florida Gulf Coast University and a youth activist on a climate-positive journey. Her care for animals and people fuels her commitment to environmental advocacy and drives her push for stronger US climate policies. Outside of activism, Cassandra enjoys reading, writing, drawing, and playing musical instruments. She hopes to help build a more equal world and uplift those facing environmental injustice.

Charles Amoani-Antwi, Team Sustainovators

Sophomore, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Tech, Kumasi, Ghana

Charles is a Computer Engineering student at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. Passionate about technology and environmental sustainability, he combines innovation with advocacy to address climate and social challenges. As a member of PGC Team Sustainovators and a leader within the Youth Environmental Alliance, Charles empowers young people to take climate action through education, digital storytelling, and community initiatives. His interests include climate technology, renewable energy, and environmental data analysis.

Darinka Cerna, Team Green Tech

Graduate Student, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Lima, Peru

Darinka is a Law student at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and a member of Team Green Tech. She is passionate about environmental law and human rights, leading climate justice conversations through her university’s environmental law podcast and contributing to research and advocacy in environmental litigation. Darinka also supports youth organizing and public outreach through campus networks focused on sustainability. She seeks to use law as a tool for transformation, empowering young people to take collective action toward a more just and resilient planet.

Diana Mazhari

Freshman, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran

Diana is a freshman at Tabriz University in Iran, passionate about climate action and raising awareness through education. She believes climate literacy is the first step toward meaningful change and focuses on global awareness and quality education. During Project Green Challenge, she launched Denga, an initiative that promotes accessible climate education and empowers youth to take action. Diana hopes to create opportunities for others, just as PGC did for her.

Isabelle Deon, Team What We Grew

Junior, Jericho High School, Jericho, New York, USA

Isabelle is a junior at Jericho High School in New York and member of Team What We Grew, where she explores environmental justice through research and creative expression. She is involved in Jericho’s environmental and FFA clubs, the science research program, and the Research and Heritage Committee. Isabelle is currently studying biochar and its effects on crop yields, and she enjoys gardening, drawing, and music. Outside of school, she works with environmental organizations to create positive impact, especially in soil health and ocean conservation.

Joely Kim, Team Dandy Lions

Junior, Granada Hills Charter High School, Los Angeles, California, USA

Joely is a high school student at Granada Hills Charter in California and member of Team Dandy Lions. Co-founder of her school’s Sustainability Club, Beautification Committee, and recycling program, she is passionate about cultivating environmental stewardship and addressing food waste through education and community care. Joely leads ReVIVe & REscue, a nonprofit that redirects excess garden surplus to families in need, reducing food insecurity and promoting food literacy.

 

Monica Annim, Team Bigfoot

Junior, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Ghana

Monica is a sustainability innovator from Ghana and a student at Koforidua Technical University. She co-founded Bigfoot (also the name of her PGC Team), a youth-led initiative that transforms discarded coconut husks into sustainable footwear, creating green jobs and promoting circular economy practices. Monica’s work centers on environmental entrepreneurship, climate action, and empowering youth through eco-innovation. Her leadership in clean-up campaigns and waste-to-resource solutions reflects a deep commitment to building a cleaner, more sustainable future for Ghana and beyond.

Purnima Kabir

Graduate Student, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Purnima is a Master’s student in Environmental Sciences at Jahangirnagar University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She leads climate education and community engagement through workshops, clean-up campaigns, tree planting, and butterfly rescue fairs. As General Secretary of the Nature Conservation Initiative and Program Executive at the Space and Environment Research Centre, she promotes environmental stewardship and has published research on rainwater harvesting. Purnima believes progress begins when everyone understands their responsibility to protect the Earth.

Sasha Gupta

Senior, Wheeler High School, Marietta, Georgia, USA

Sasha is a senior at Wheeler High School in Marietta, Georgia, passionate about protecting wildlife and the nature she has always loved exploring. She is developing projects to reduce food waste — which she views as a solvable challenge — and improve access to fresh food in schools and underserved neighborhoods. Sasha believes food systems are key to climate solutions and hopes to help communities and ecosystems coexist more responsibly.

Sidhi Sareen, Team Ecovisionaries

Senior, Government Model Sanskriti Senior Secondary School, Ambala, India

Sidhi is a senior from GMSSS Ambala in Haryana, India and member of Team Ecovisionaries, whose connection to nature began on her family’s farmhouse. She leads the Youth Empowerment Alliance, where she designs programs and innovation labs to support young changemakers. Her work bridges climate education, sustainability, and tech innovation — from kinetic tiles and rooftop gardens to a 3D floating city design recognized by the New York Academy of Sciences. Sidhi believes that bold ideas, nurtured with empathy and action, can reshape the future.