This new generation is fighting for a fairer world — from poverty to the climate crisis, from Argentina to Pakistan; these activists are all under 30 and making their voices heard.
Pro-Palestine protestors. Jeremiah Amaya. Unsplash.
The world is changing, and much of its progress is thanks to the young people at the forefront of causes such as climate activism, the fight for human rights and more. These activists are leaders in their communities and have dedicated themselves to fighting for positive change.
1. Greta Thunberg
Age 20
Sweden — Climate Justice
Greta Thurnberg holding a banner. @gretathurnberg. Instagram
It’s no surprise Greta Thunberg is on this list. Greta has been an extremely influential climate activist since 2018, when she was just 15 years old. She started protesting the Swedish Parliament by skipping school and sitting outside the parliament building leading up to the election. This was the start of the now global Fridays For Future campaign, a youth-led movement that organizes climate strikes and activists worldwide. Greta is one of the most prominent voices in climate activism today, earning her a spot to speak at the 2019 UN Climate Crisis Summit, where she boldly told older generations they were complacent in addressing the climate crisis.
2. Malala Yousafzai
Age 25
Pakistan — Human Rights
Malala posing for a photo. @malala. Instagram
Although only 25 years old, Malala Yousafzai is a household name to people all over the world. She grew up under Taliban occupation, inspiring her to write a post for the BBC under a pen name about what it was like. In response, a masked man boarded her school bus and shot her in the head. This incident, however, did not stop her. Malala became the center of an international movement and published her first book, “I Am Malala.”
3. John Paul Jose
Age 24
India — Climate Justice
John Paul Jose protesting on behalf of Indian farmers. @johnpauljos. Instagram.
The 24-year-old activist grew up in the coastal region of Kerala, India. John Paul started his activism working with Greenpeace, an organization that aims to enact systemic change regarding the climate. From there, John Paul began organizing strikes and facilitating discussions around climate change in India. The young activist also served as a youth ambassador for the High Seas Alliance. The alliance brings together various NGOs and activists to push for ocean conservation on a large scale. John Paul also spoke at the Ted Climate Summit in October 2020. The summit was broadcast to the public and featured speakers ranging from celebrities to scientists to dedicated activists like John Paul.
4. Holly Gillibrand
Age 18
Scotland — Climate Justice
Holli Gilibrand standing with a PRIDE flag. @HollyWildChild. Twitter
Holly Gillibrand started participating in the Friday school strikes started by Thunberg when she was 13. Residing in Scotland, the activist has made an effort to personally reduce her own carbon footprint and believes that missing school demonstrates that the climate crisis is a severe concern for young people. Holly is now an organizer for the Fridays for Future Scotland organization and continues to be a powerful voice in the United kingdom regarding climate change.
5. Mitzi Jonelle Tan
Age 25
Philippines — Climate Justice
Mitzi Jonelle Tan at a public speaking event. @mitzijonelle. Instagram
Mitzi Jonelle Tan is a 25-year-old climate activist that serves for both Fridays For Future and Youth Advocates for Climate Action Philippines. The Philippines is one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change, and is considered the second most dangerous country for climate activists like Mitzi. Starting in 2021 Mitzi joined the campaign against Standard Chartered, a bank that heavily funded the coal industry. In September 2021, the bank announced it would stop corporate loans to the coal industry, but this wasn’t enough for Mitzi and their fellow activists. The activists hosted a fake press conference posing as leaders of the bank. The prank was meant to illustrate Standard Charter’s harm to the climate and push back against the bank’s attempt to spin a positive image for itself.
6. Leah Namugerwa
Age 19
Uganda — Deforestation
Activist Leah Namugerwa. Photo Courtesy of Leah Namugerwa
Leah Namugerwa is a he 19-year-old activist who is determined to fight deforestation in Uganda and has been dedicated to planting trees for years, planting 500 for her 16th birthday alone. Leah is also the founder of the Fridays For Future Uganda campaign leading other students to participate in climate activism. She believes Uganda should agree to the Paris Agreement to recognize climate change as a serious issue.
7. Eyal Weintraub
Age 21
Argentina — Climate Justice
Eyal Weintraub posing. @eyalwein. Instagram
The 21-year-old activist from Argentina is the founder of the Youth for Climate Argentina movement. Eyal Weintraub is passionate about discussing how privilege plays a role in climate justice, stating that climate change “affects in much greater numbers those already socially vulnerable.” Additionally, Weintraub wants the Argentinian government to take significant action towards climate change, mainly to tackle specific problems that affect those in poverty.
8. Xiye Bastida
Age 20
Mexico — Climate Justice
Bastida Speaking at a TED Conference. TED Conference. CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Xiye Bastida is a young activist who has an impressive list of accomplishments at just 20 years old. Raised in San Pedro Tultepec noutside of Mexico City, Bastia grew up appreciating nature raised in her father’s Otemi-Toltec culture. Xiye is now based in New York City and is a leader of the Fridays for Future movement. Additionally, Xiye is a coordinator for the Re-Earth Initiative. In 2018 she was invited to speak at the United Nations World Urban Forum. Xiye moved to New York City when she was 12 years old with her family after flooding forced them to leave their hometown in Mexico. It was then Xiye started the Fridays For Future chapter in New York City and is passionate about climate justice.
9. Vishal Vijay
Age 22
Canada — Fighting Poverty
Activist Vishal Vijay. Photo courtesy of Vishal Vijay.
When Vishal Vijay was 10 years old, he traveled to India to witness the effects of poverty. From this, the 18-year-old activist spread the word about these injustices. Vishal and his younger brother, Ishan, have begun a national nonprofit organization called EveryChildNow, striving to help children with basic needs.
10. Karin Watson Ferrer
Age 25
Chile — Reproductive Rights
Karin Watson Ferrer holding a sign at a protest. @caleidosc. Instagram
A Chilean human rights activist, Karin Watson Ferrer, is fighting for safe and legal abortion in Chile. Although abortion is now legal in Chile, rules are strict and only allow people to have an abortion if their fetus is unviable or if the pregnancy results from rape. To further aid Chilean women, Karin and her friend found Que se sepa! so that women may come together online to share their experiences and safe ways to get an abortion.
11. Nupol Kiazolu
Age 22
United States — Racial Justice
Nupol Kiazolu showing a Black Power First infant of a graffitied Dr. MLK Jr. quote. @nupoljustice. Instagram.
Twenty-two-year-old Nupol Kiazolu has found the time between midterms and assignments at Hampton University to become a human rights activist; one passionate about the Black Lives Matter movement. During the world’s unrest in June 2020, Nupol was protesting for George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, among others, making sure their names were kept alive. She has also served in the Black Lives Matter Youth Coalition as president and organized hundreds of marches.
12. X González
Age 23
United States — Gun Control
X González. @emmawise18. Instagram
X González, 23-year-old, is a survivor of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, where 17 students and staff were killed. In response, X gave a speech on the lack of action by politicians and claimed, “We Call B.S..” X is now an activist for gun control and co-founded the gun-control advocacy group Never Again MSD.
13. Marley Dias
Age 18
United States — Racial Justice
Activist Marley Dias. @iammarleydias. Instagram.
At 11 years old, Marley Dias noticed all her school readings only featured white boys or girls. Now Marley is 18 years old and is a symbol for representation. She began a book drive called #1000BlackGirlBooks to emphasize the importance of adequately representing different ethnicities, which amassed 9,000 books featuring black female protagonists. In 2018, Marley released a biographical book titled “Marley Dias Gets It Done: And So Can You!” to increase young readers awareness of the significance of representation.
14. Amika George
Age 23
England — Women’s and Girls
Amika George. @amikageorge. Instagram
“Everything changed” for Amika George when she ate breakfast in April 2017 and stumbled upon the term “period poverty.” When she realized there were reports of girls being forced to use alternatives like newspapers or socks instead of pads or tampons, she started a campaign called Free Periods, which asked the British government for free menstrual products for all children in full-time education. It has now grown into a global movement, and since January 2020, every school in England has provided free menstrual products for students.
15. Boyan Slat
Age 28
Netherlands — Environmental Clean-Up
Boyan Slat wearing his eco-friendly sunglasses. @boyanslat. Instagram.
Boyan Slat is a 28-year-old activist, born in the Netherlands. When he was in Greece, he saw more plastic bags than fish in the sea, which inspired him to look into solutions to clean up plastic pollution. Later, he dropped his Aerospace Engineering degree to be the founder of The Ocean Cleanup. He is now the organization’s CEO and has led groups to clean up some of the world’s most polluted rivers, ensuring plastic waste never reaches the ocean.
Michelle Tian
Michelle is a senior at Boston University, majoring in journalism and minoring in philosophy. Her parents are first-generation immigrants from China, so her love for different cultures and traveling came naturally at a young age. After graduation, she hopes to continue sharing important messages through her work
Dana Flynn
Dana is a recent graduate from Tufts University with a degree in English. While at Tufts she enjoyed working on a campus literary magazine and reading as much as possible. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she loves to explore and learn new things.