Student Spotlights
Meet some of your fellow Wayfinders, including our latest Student Mini-Grant Awardees.
Get inspired for your own journey addressing plastic pollution.
Aana Shenai
Aana is an environmental science and public health student at Loyola University Chicago and a Marine Plastics Ambassador with EarthEcho International. For her ambassador project, she researches plastic pollution in Lake Michigan, sorting and analyzing debris from a nearby harbor to better understand local pollution sources.
Cécile Lamah
Cécile is a chemical engineering student from Guinea studying in France who creates natural, plastic-free cosmetics rooted in her African heritage. Her project focuses on using medicinal plants like moringa and other traditional materials to offer ethical, effective skincare with zero plastic packaging.
Karla Belén Velásquez Ferrada
Karla, based in Chile, is a part of the nonprofit, Lafken Lif, focusing on waterway cleanups, environmental education, and science outreach. In collaboration with Científicos de la Basura, she works on a project monitoring plastic pollution in rivers across Latin America.
Peggy Chen
Peggy is developing a microplastic detection STEM kit for K–12 classrooms. Partnering with NCSU Plant Sciences Initiative, her goal is to distribute the kits statewide. Currently, she is expanding outreach through science festivals and museums to inspire student-led action.
Sulaiman Abubakar Umar
Sulaiman is the founder of the Concerned Youth Initiative for Climate Action in Gombe State, Nigeria, where he leads cleanups and education programs on plastic pollution. Now pursuing a Master’s in Environmental Management, he’s focused on creating sustainable waste systems and policy solutions.
Emaan Danish Khan
Emaan is the founder of Earth Warriors Pakistan, a program making climate education accessible to students in their regional languages. After witnessing floods, deforestation, and plastic pollution in her country, she launched climate camps in remote areas to ensure no one is left out of the conversation.
Carson Anekeya
Carson is a digital journalist and media communications student from Kenya using storytelling to expose the impact of plastic pollution in Nairobi. His investigative project traces the life cycle of plastic waste and highlights the voices of local residents and activists working toward change.
Aanishka Agrawal
Aanishka is a high school student in Georgia who is tackling plastic pollution through innovative research in plastic bioremediation. She’s developing a fungi-based method to accelerate plastic breakdown, while also using GIS technology to map pollution across Georgia’s waterways.
Marion Kasandi
Marion is a final-year law student at the University of Eldoret, studying environmental law. Passionate about justice and the impact of plastic pollution on vulnerable communities, she leads a legal literacy project that educates women and youth about Kenya’s plastic regulations.
Nosheen Jahan
Nosheen is a climate activist from Pakistan and founder of Blue Future, a climate justice initiative rooted in the belief that climate change is water change. Inspired by witnessing how climate change impact Pakistan’s mountain communities, she launched Blue Future to address these urgent issues.
Renée García
Renée is a nanotechnology student at National Autonomous University of Mexico focused on nanotoxicology and bioremediation. She’s researching bacteria that can degrade nanoplastics. She is an active member of Fridays for Future and leads environmental education and cleanup efforts.
Peace Otabor
Peace is a law student and environmental law advocate from Nigeria. After witnessing the impacts of plastic pollution in her community, she founded Eco Clean – an project focused on plastic pollution advocacy, education and cleanup efforts. Peace uses Eco Clean to educate and inspire action on her campus.
Isabel Cornejo Eguia
Isabel is an environmental engineer from Peru, and co-founder of the Environmental University Network of Peru at La Católica University of Santa María. She is leading a project in southern Peru to combat plastic pollution through community clean-ups, awareness events, and data collection.
Ian Akoyo
Ian is an Environmental Science student at Egerton University in Kenya passionate about protecting the planet. He launched the Plastic Free Study initiative that aims to turn key student areas into plastic-free zones through peer conversations, cleanups, and sustainable alternatives.
Happyness Makanya
Happyness is a student from Tanzania and founder of the International Youth Network. Her journey began in high school after witnessing the impact of plastic pollution, leading her to organize beach cleanups, promote alternatives, and build a growing youth-led movement focused on shifting mindsets and actions.
Everlyne Maniga
Everlyne is the chairperson of the environmental club at Kilifi Township Senior School in Kenya. Through her project, Plastic Free for Moja Parks, she is providing 50 students with reusable kits to educate fellow students on ways to reduce single-use plastic at her school.
Cynthia Vunyali
Cynthia is a high school student from Kenya who is leading the charge against plastic pollution in her school. Through her “Plastic Free School Days” initiative, she organizes cleanups, promotes reusable alternatives and dreams of becoming a future environmental educator.
Barack Obama Onono
Barack is a middle school student at Kisi Township Junior School in Kenya and the founder of the Save the Environment group. His passion for fighting plastic pollution began after watching The Story of Plastic and led him to organize cleanups, litter-free lunches, and campaigns to reduce single-use plastics.
Loreen Achieng
Loreen is a high school student from Homa Bay, Kenya, and is the founder of the Plastic Free Champions Club at her school. Through this initiative, she leads cleanups, awareness campaigns, and recycling activities to educate fellow students.
Everlyne Semo
Everlyne is a student from northeastern Kenya. She is the founder and chairperson of the Zero Plastic Club at Mandera Girls Secondary School. Motivated by the harmful effects of plastic waste on her school environment and community health, she launched the club to inspire student action.
Apply for a Student Mini-Grant!
This award is open to all Wayfinders looking to get some financial support for their personal education and development, school efforts, community projects, internships, networking events, etc. connected to addressing the plastic crisis.
Get started!
Start earning credit for making a difference in your community, at your school, and at home.
