The 2021 EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker Grantees are showcasing the power of environmental education to address social and environmental issues, reconnect communities with nature and their land, and build critical skills and environmental literacy in children and adults around the world. Through the latest opportunity available for EE 30 Under 30 alumni, this group of twelve leaders will receive small grants, professional development, and a community of support to boost their impact as they implement projects that build low-carbon economies, create resilient communities, and protect and restore ecosystems across eight countries.

Their projects build on their inspiring leadership addressing a wide range of sustainability issues, including reconnecting indigenous communities to traditional land-based practices, empowering youth to inform national climate policies, creating inclusive and culturally relevant E-STEM education kits for at-home learning, and much more. Check out all of their projects by visiting their biographies below!

Sara Alamo | Córdoba, Argentina
"Weaving net to restore the Sierras de Cordoba Native Forest"

Damilola Aminat Adeyemi | Ogun, Nigeria
"BEYH 2021: Bookers Environmental Youths Heroes 2021"

Symone Barkley | Maryland, United States
"Peace of Nature: Empowering Youth in STEM Learning & Environmentalism"

Kehkashan Basu | Gopalganj, Bangladesh
"Environmental education in a Covid affected rural community"

Connel Bradwell | British Columbia, Canada & Erinn Drage | Nova Scotia, Canada
"Generation Wild: An Exploration of Youth-led Conservation in Canada"

Ciarra Greene | Nimiipuu Homelands (ID, MT, OR, WA), United States
"Nimiipuu’neewit: Lifeways of Our Homelands"

Ajay Mittal | West Bengal, India
"Empower Rural Women Leaders for Climate Action"

Quek Yew Aun | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
"Reef Spawn: Broadcasting marine environmental education in Malaysia and beyond"

Adam Ratner | California, United States
"Climate Literacy Collaborative"

Elise Trelegan | Maryland, United States
"Building Leadership Capacity in YEAS Student Ambassadors"

Isabella Villanueva-García | Santiago, Chile
"Youth Voices for OUR Ecological Constitution"

The Changemakers Grants program, implemented over 10 months, aims to build the capacity of EE 30 Under 30 as EE leaders through the program’s many learning and networking opportunities, including implementing and adapting their individual projects and sharing experience and knowledge by forming a collaborative learning community. Since 2016, NAAEE's EE 30 Under 30 program has recognized 150 individuals from around the world who are making a difference through environmental education. This program is made possible by NAAEE’s Global Environmental Education Partnership (GEEP), the U.S. Forest Service, and Wells Fargo. To learn more, visit naaee.org/ee30under30.

“The Changemaker grant allows me to reinforce my skills, leadership, and commitment to work with projects that amplify local voices, tackle inequalities, and create lasting change in vulnerable communities.”

- Luisa Martinez Zarate, Social Entrepreneur at Impulsum Lab in Mexico and a 2020 Changemaker Grantee

“We are thrilled to support our second cohort of EE 30 Under 30 Changemakers who are using education to create lasting change in their communities and institutions, and help elevate the voices and impact of young leaders across the globe through this program. These leaders are an inspiration to all of us working to create a more equitable and sustainable future.”

- Judy Braus, Executive Director of NAAEE