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.
Climate Action Project: Carbon Conversations 2.0
Carbon Conversations 2.0 is a youth‑led ecosystem transforming climate education into hands‑on, school‑based action. What began as a digital toolkit has evolved into a multi‑school Hub model that blends accessible climate learning with low‑cost, student‑built technology. Through a custom web platform, locally powered AI tools, and regenerative materials like seed‑paper kits and recycled‑plastic products, the initiative helps schools replace traditional waste streams with circular alternatives. Youth facilitators lead Carbon Conversation Circles, support peer learning, and guide schools in adopting sustainable practices. Now active across multiple cities and schools, the project demonstrates how open‑source tools and student leadership can build lasting climate infrastructure. Carbon Conversations 2.0 equips young people with the skills, systems, and community needed to turn climate awareness into sustained, collective action.
Watch Aarush’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Fair & Green Future Initiative
The Fair & Green Future Initiative combines fair trade and sustainability to promote ethical consumption and climate-responsible production. It addresses two urgent challenges: ensuring fair pay for producers and reducing environmental harm through low-carbon, transparent supply chains.
The project expands awareness of fair-trade principles, launches a national map of verified ethical producers, and distributes Champion Toolkits. It also advocates for climate-responsible sourcing through guides and outreach to policymakers and businesses, while supporting producers through wage transparency and vocational training.
By empowering producers, inspiring communities, and influencing policies, the initiative shows that equity and climate action can go hand in hand — building a fairer, greener future for all.
Watch Anas’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Roots Reborn 2.0
Roots Reborn 2.0 is a youth-led reforestation and environmental education project in Buea, Cameroon, focused on restoring degraded land and cultivating climate leadership. Through Eco Learning Circles, the project brings together students, farmers, and women for hands-on training in agroforestry, composting, and waste upcycling.
The team will plant and sustain 500 Indigenous trees across three sites: the University of Buea, Molyko, and Bokwaongo. They will also train 50 students and 10 farmers in sustainable practices. A Green Track Dashboard will document progress and amplify stories through the #OneTreeOneStory campaign.
With support from the University of Buea, Environment and Rural Development Foundation Cameroon, and the Buea Municipal Council, the project blends science, creativity, and community to make sustainability a shared culture. Every tree planted is an act of restoration — of land, of community, and of hope.
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.
Climate Action Project: Save & Share
Save & Share is a youth‑led initiative in Cuenca, Ecuador, addressing food waste and food insecurity through a community‑centered redistribution network. The project collects surplus food from local businesses and organizations and delivers weekly food kits to families, patients, migrants, and students. Alongside food recovery, Save & Share integrates education on responsible consumption, resource efficiency, and social empathy, helping communities rethink waste as a shared resource. The initiative has expanded to include clothing recovery, rural outreach, and partnerships with universities, nonprofits, and local institutions. By combining environmental responsibility with social dignity, Save & Share offers a scalable model for zero‑waste cities and demonstrates how youth leadership can strengthen community resilience while reducing the climate impacts of food waste.
Watch Carolina’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Earth Equality
Earth Equity is a youth‑driven digital platform amplifying environmental justice stories across South Florida. Through interviews, community connections, and accessible education, the project highlights how climate change affects residents, students, workers, and organizers — especially those on the frontlines of environmental and social inequity. Modeled after narrative‑driven platforms, Earth Equity uses storytelling to help Floridians understand what’s at stake and how they can influence policy change. The initiative has grown into a hub for local engagement, connecting students, organizations, and experts while fostering deeper participation in climate advocacy. By centering lived experience and pairing it with calls to action, Earth Equity builds a more informed, connected, and empowered community ready to push for a just and sustainable future.
Watch Cassandra’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: EcoQuest
EcoQuest is a youth‑centered digital platform designed to turn environmental awareness into daily climate action. Built by university students in Ghana, the app offers simple, habit‑building “quests” that help young people integrate sustainability into their everyday lives. Through interactive challenges, learning modules, and up‑to‑date environmental information, EcoQuest provides structure, motivation, and a sense of progress for users seeking to make meaningful change. The project grew from a basic website concept into a fully developed app shaped by research, teamwork, and community feedback. By combining education with gamification, EcoQuest empowers students to adopt long‑term sustainable habits and lays the foundation for broader campus and community engagement. The platform reflects a new generation of innovators using technology to inspire climate action.
Watch Charles’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: A Drop of Active Hope
A Drop of Active Hope is a youth‑led campaign in Lima, Peru, redefining beach cleanups through environmental justice and corporate accountability. Led by the GreenTech student collective, the project uses the Brand Audit methodology to identify the companies most responsible for coastal plastic pollution. Through citizen science, volunteer mobilization, and partnerships with university departments and environmental organizations, the initiative shifts the narrative from individual responsibility to systemic change. Volunteers collect and categorize waste, generating data that supports legal advocacy and institutional action. The project has grown into a recognized model for scientific, community‑driven environmental monitoring, inspiring other student groups to replicate the approach. A Drop of Active Hope empowers young people to protect marine ecosystems while holding major polluters accountable.
Watch Darinka’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Denge Org
Denge Org is a youth-led initiative focused on making climate education accessible and actionable. Named after the Turkish word for “balance,” Denge offers free courses on climate change and sustainable living, designed to ease the transition for those just beginning their climate journey.
Recognizing that time, money, and capacity can be barriers, Denge provides free climate action consultations. After completing a three-month course, students and young professionals take a qualifying exam to become certified climate action consultants. These consultants then support new volunteers with weekly action plans — small, achievable steps — and offer ongoing guidance and motivation.
Watch Diana’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Youth for Biodiversity
Youth for Biodiversity is a youth‑led initiative on Long Island dedicated to restoring local ecosystems and cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards. Through hands‑on gardening education, the project introduces children and teens to native plants, pollinators, soil health, and regenerative land care. In partnership with Rewild Long Island and regional Girl Scout councils, the team co‑developed a pilot program that blends workshops, planting activities, and creative learning experiences — culminating in a new sustainability badge that recognizes participants’ commitment to ecological care. By transforming schoolyards and community spaces into living classrooms, Youth for Biodiversity helps young people build a deeper connection to nature and understand their role in protecting it. The project fosters long‑term environmental awareness while strengthening community engagement around biodiversity and local conservation.
Watch Isabelle’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: The Abundance Box
The Abundance Box is a youth‑driven community food‑sharing initiative in California that connects home gardeners and community gardens with local families through volunteer‑powered distribution. Led by Joely, the project collects surplus produce, organizes neighborhood drop‑offs, and shares simple educational tools that help participants understand the environmental benefits of reducing food waste. The Abundance Box also highlights stories from growers and volunteers, building a sense of connection and shared purpose across the community. By transforming excess harvests into a steady source of fresh food, the project supports both climate action and community care. The Abundance Box shows how youth leadership, local networks, and small‑scale abundance can come together to reduce waste, strengthen relationships, and nourish families.
Watch Joely’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Step Green Initiative
The Step Green Initiative is a youth‑led project in Ghana transforming agricultural waste into climate‑smart products through circular design and community collaboration. Led by Monica and her team, the project repurposes discarded coconut husks into durable, sustainable footwear while creating opportunities for environmental education and green entrepreneurship. Through school outreach, workshops, and partnerships with local artisans, the team introduces young people to circular economy principles and demonstrates how waste can become a valuable resource. The initiative also fosters community engagement by encouraging students and families to participate in collection drives and sustainability activities. By combining innovation, environmental responsibility, and social impact, the Step Green Initiative offers a replicable model for youth‑driven climate solutions and highlights how local materials can support both economic opportunity and ecological care.
Watch Monica’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Brick-to-Block Transition Hub
Brick-to-Block Transition Hub (B2B-TH) is a youth-led initiative in Sreepur, Gazipur, Bangladesh, working to replace polluting brick kilns with cleaner, safer building practices. Traditional kilns burn coal and destroy fertile topsoil, harming both the environment and the health of workers.
B2B-TH introduces Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks — a low-emission, unfired alternative — and trains kiln workers in this sustainable technology. The project centers both environmental restoration and worker wellbeing, offering hands-on training and a pathway to safer livelihoods.
The team will produce sample blocks, gather impact data, and build momentum toward a permanent hub for green construction. By combining climate action with care for frontline communities, B2B-TH is laying the foundation for a more just and sustainable future.
Watch Purnima’s CAP Presentation
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.
Climate Action Project: Perfectly Imperfect
Perfectly Imperfect is a youth‑led initiative in Georgia that tackles food waste and food insecurity by rescuing cosmetically imperfect produce and redistributing it through local partners. Sasha’s project brings together students, community organizations, and volunteers to recover fresh fruits and vegetables that would otherwise be discarded, turning them into a reliable resource for families in need. Alongside weekly collection and distribution, Perfectly Imperfect fosters education around sustainable consumption, food systems, and community care. Through hands‑on engagement and accessible storytelling, the project helps young people understand the environmental and social impacts of waste while building a culture of shared responsibility. Perfectly Imperfect demonstrates how youth leadership can transform overlooked resources into meaningful climate action, strengthening both community resilience and environmental stewardship.
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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.
Climate Action Project: Youth Climate Innovation Network
Youth Climate Innovation Network (YCIN) is a global, youth-led platform that connects young innovators, creators, and activists with mentors, educators, and organizations. Through innovation challenges, project incubation, and community building, YCIN helps young people bring climate solutions to life.
YCIN is a collective of youth responding to a world shaped by floods, fires, and decisions made without them. It’s for those who are done waiting for permission. The network meets young people where they are, offering guidance, resources, and space to move from concept to implementation — whether refining a local solution or building something global. Through collaboration, experimentation, and shared learning, YCIN supports climate action rooted in lived experience.
Watch Sidhi’s CAP Presentation
