This six-year-old Indian-origin girl has made us all proud by winning the daily Points of Light honour from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. She won it for spreading awareness about deforestation and global warming challenges.
Aleesha Gadhia, a climate activist and Cool Earth mini ambassador, has earned over GBP 3,000 for the UK-based non-profit. Cool Earth works with rainforest people to fight deforestation and advocates for corporations to adopt more environmentally friendly practices.
In addition to lobbying, she has established a climate change club at her school and encourages people to care about the environment through initiatives such as litter collecting and tree planting.
“I’m thrilled to have won this award. I am incredibly grateful and honoured to have Prime Minister Boris Johnson present me with an award and write me a letter. I never imagined I’d win an award like this“, Gadhia said to The New Indian Express.
Gadhia is the 1,755th person to win the esteemed award, which was established in 2014 to honor those who make a difference in the community.
“Climate change is a key issue, and I am hopeful that making people aware will help to solve it. Thanks to everyone that has helped me along the way, especially my teachers, Mrs. Heatlie and Mrs. Wandand. Cool Earth has chosen me as their first young ambassador, which I am grateful for,” she added.
Many of the emails and letters were addressed by the young climate campaigner to some of the UK’s top firms and prominent individuals, encouraging them to take climate action.
Gadhia launched a Just Giving online campaign page earlier this year, wherein she generated GBP 3,400 for Cool Earth with her 80-kilometer scooter challenge, which was supported by Queen Elizabeth II and environmentalist Sir David Attenborough.
“I will do all in my power to safeguard the rainforests. All funds raised will be utilized to help make the Earth a greener place to live. It’s all about the money,” she said of her fundraising efforts.
“We are quite proud of our daughter; for someone so young, she has accomplished a great deal in the previous year. We’ve all been inspired by her, and we hope she continues on her incredible journey,” Kiran and Pooja Gadhia, her parents, said.
Children like Aleesha Gadhia are setting an example to the world to work towards climate change and create a better place to live.