In brief
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun, a driven 14-year-old from Kenya, has captivated the world with her passion for tree planting and environmental advocacy. Inspired by Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, Ellyanne has met influential figures like King Charles and ex-football star David Beckham, all while planting over 1.3 million trees globally. Through her organization, Children With Nature, she aims to mobilize a generation to fight climate change. Even as she explores other advocacy avenues, her ultimate dream remains to catalyze the planting of a trillion trees worldwide.
In a world growing increasingly concerned about climate change, a young girl from Kenya is proving that age is no barrier to making a significant impact. Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun, at just 14 years old, has taken up the global cause of tree planting with a fervor that echoes the pioneering efforts of her hero, the late Nobel laureate Professor Wangari Maathai. Embarking on this journey at the age of four, after a school project on global changemakers, Ellyanne was deeply moved by Prof Maathai's plant-a-tree-and-change-the-world philosophy. Her passion only grew as she learned about the environmental science of trees and their role in combating deforestation and desertification.Her early enthusiasm led her to plant a seed—both literally and metaphorically—and set the course for what would become an impressive global campaign. With support from her family, she established the not-for-profit organization, Children With Nature, in 2017. The initiative seeks to educate and empower young people to make a difference in their communities through tree planting, spreading roots of change from Kenya to the world.Ellyanne has since planted over 1.3 million trees across various countries, including the USA, UK, Uganda, and Morocco, although she remains especially committed to reforesting Kenya. Her work has gained international recognition, connecting her with environmental campaigns and summits around the globe. She has partnered with Grammy award-winning director Meji Alabi on a dramatic climate change awareness video that features ex-soccer icon David Beckham. Her advocacy extends beyond tree planting; at the 2023 climate summit in Dubai, she highlighted the intersection of climate change and public health, noting the surge in malaria cases as a pressing issue tied to shifting weather patterns.Despite her environmental advocacy and global travels, Ellyanne manages to maintain excellent academic performance, a balance she credits to her upbringing and personal resolve. Her education and activism are underscored by a powerful belief in her potential to enact wide-reaching change. Looking forward, she aspires to facilitate the planting of one trillion trees by the time she reaches adulthood, aiming to contribute decisively to Africa’s Green Belt initiative, which seeks to halt the Sahara Desert’s spread through strategic tree planting.Ellyanne’s journey speaks to a new generation's resilience and capability, embodying a spirit of determination and hope. While she has no plans for a political career like her mentor, Ellyanne aims to study economics and leverage her education to further her environmental goals. With dreams that stretch as wide as the horizon, Ellyanne is a potent reminder of what is possible when passion meets purpose, inspiring others to believe that change, no matter the odds, is always within reach.
