We are pleased to announce our first cohort of EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees! Thanks to a new opportunity open to EE 30 Under 30 alumni, thirteen EE 30 Under 30 alumni from eight countries will receive small grants and technical support over the coming year to implement environmental education projects that work to build low-carbon economies, create resilient communities, and protect and restore ecosystems.

NAAEE’s EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees will work on a diversity of sustainability issues -- from creating food forests in New Zealand to building a global movement for circular cities. The grantees will lead their projects over the course of 10 months, and in addition to seed funding will receive professional development support, including the opportunity to present about their work at NAAEE’s 49th international conference in Tucson, AZ, in October 2020.

This opportunity is made possible thanks to support from Wells Fargo. “Wells Fargo understands the urgency of accelerating a just transition to a low-carbon economy and helping communities become more resilient to the impacts of climate change – that’s why we collaborated with NAAEE to support these inspiring Changemakers. Through their passion, innovation, and perseverance, these young leaders are helping to shape the communities of the future,” says CaSondra Devine, Enterprise Sustainability Leader at Wells Fargo. 

“Our EE 30 Under 30 Changemaker grantees exemplify the very best in environmental education and inspire us to think boldly about how we can tackle the tough issues we face. NAAEE is so proud to collaborate with Wells Fargo on this initiative, and to be able to provide these leaders with the support they need to shape healthier and more sustainable communities,” shared Judy Braus, Executive Director of NAAEE.

Click on the links below to read more about the grantees and their projects!

• Adedoyin Adeleke, Nigeria
• Alerick Pacay, Guatemala
• Anna Tari Sanchez, U.S.
• Dieuwertje Kast, U.S.
• Emmanuel Ken Ekwerem, Nigeria
• Jared Hiakita, New Zealand
• Lauren Gibson, U.S.
• Leah Davidson, U.S.
• Luisa Martinez Zarate, Mexico
• Mariam Kabamba Merry, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Nicole Andreou, Denmark
• Pratikshya Paneru, Nepal
• Sean Russell, U.S.

The program is open to previous awardees of NAAEE’s EE 30 Under 30 program, which annually recognizes exemplary leaders under the age of 30 who are harnessing the power of education to create a more sustainable future. To learn more, visit naaee.org/ee30under30.

We will soon be recruiting the next class of EE 30 Under 30!
Call for nominations for EE 30 Under 30 2020 will open March 24! Check the program page on March 24 for the application, or sign up here for updates.