In brief
At 14, Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun has planted over 1.3 million trees alongside an international community, driven by inspiration from Nobel laureate Prof Wangari Maathai. Her ventures include collaborations with notable figures like King Charles and David Beckham, addressing climate issues through various campaigns and media projects.
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun, a 14-year-old from Kenya, has gained international recognition for her environmental activism and commitment to combating climate change. Inspired by Wangari Maathai, Kenya’s revered tree planter and Nobel laureate, Ellyanne initiated her journey at the age of four. While learning about impactful figures like Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela, it was Maathai's environmental efforts that resonated most with Ellyanne. Maathai's legacy of empowering women to plant trees and tackle deforestation influenced Ellyanne profoundly. Despite initial hesitation from her mother, who was aware of Maathai's tumultuous activism history, Ellyanne's resolve remained strong. Her efforts began with planting seeds at home which grew into an enduring passion for environmental science. Under the guidance of experts like Dr. Jane Njuguna, Ellyanne expanded her knowledge and founded Children With Nature in 2017, a non-profit aiming to engage youth in environmental conservation. Her widespread campaign has seen over 1.3 million trees planted globally. Her venture is supported by sponsorships and partnerships, facilitating her travels to plant trees worldwide. Ellyanne seamlessly balances school with her activism, maintaining exceptional academic performance. In 2023, her participation in a climate summit in Dubai further amplified her advocacy, linking climate change to health crises like malaria. Her collaboration with prominent personalities, including directing by Meji Alabi and featuring David Beckham, highlights her role in educating global audiences. Ellyanne's contributions also extend to wildlife conservation, shedding light on challenges facing animals due to climate change. Despite her expansion into media projects, her passion for tree planting remains undiminished. Her ambitions include revitalizing Africa's Green Belt and catalyzing the planting of a trillion trees globally. With an unwavering belief in her impact potential, Ellyanne plans to pursue an education in economics, inspired by the transformative power of resilience displayed by her generation in Kenya. You may also be interested in initiatives like Ethiopia's 20-billion tree target, Sierra Leone's tree-planting mayor, Kenyans receiving a holiday for tree planting, and the Senegal man aiming to plant five million trees.
