In brief
Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun's dedication to combating climate change by planting trees has garnered global recognition, aligning her with environmental heroes and iconic figures, despite her young age.
At just four years old, Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun's environmental advocacy was sparked by Kenyan Nobel laureate and tree-planting pioneer, Prof Wangari Maathai. Inspired by Maathai's achievements, Ellyanne embarked on a journey to transform the planet through reforestation. A project in kindergarten introduced her to influential figures, but it was Maathai's story of using tree planting to empower women and promote environmental conservation that resonated deeply. She persuaded her initially hesitant mother to support her dreams of environmental activism. Ellyanne founded "Children With Nature" in 2017 to educate and inspire other youth to contribute to environmental change. Her personal initiative led to the planting of around 250,000 trees by 2020, and she has built a global community that has collectively planted over 1.3 million trees in countries including Kenya, Uganda, the UK, and more. Her work extends beyond planting; she's actively involved in climate change campaigns and participated in the 2023 climate summit in Dubai. There, she highlighted the link between climate change and rising malaria cases in Kenya. Alongside her planting efforts, she participated in "Save Our Wildlife," a documentary addressing the impact of climate change on fauna, nominated for the Wildscreen Panda Awards. Despite branching out into filmmaking, Ellyanne remains devoted to her goal of reforesting Africa's Green Belt and dreams of catalyzing the global planting of a trillion trees. With no immediate political aspirations, Ellyanne aspires to specialize in economics and continues her educational journey, inspired by the legacy of her mentor Maathai. Her story exemplifies the profound impact of youthful resilience and vision on global environmental challenges.
