Nadja is a climate organizer. She received the WWF's Young Hero Award for her work in climate activism and was named one of ‘GreenPeace's Top 30 Under 30 Climate Activists of Colour ‘.
4 yr: My father told me there was bad flooding in Pakistan where he grew up. Young, worried and scared, I asked if ‘floods would hurt us in England.’ He did not answer but gave me a hug. I was too young to understand why …
7 yr: I remember seeing the TV screen flooded with media of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti. I couldn’t understand why this was happening to people? What was causing it? I felt sick… I was terrified. What was going on? How could I help?
12 yr: Having started secondary school, the curriculum finally began to explain what was happening in the world. However, I was frustrated. Such a major issue was only brushed over in geography lessons. I became curious but I was too shy to ask the right questions… and when I did, I was not given the right answers. So here begun my life's journey trying to find the correct ones… even though I didn't know it at the time.
14 yr: This year I joined the Environmental Society at school. Together, we sold ocean bracelets made from recycled plastic, created chairs made from old plastic bottles and began to raise awareness of the ongoing crisis. I felt hopeful about the difference a small group of people could make when they came together.
15 yr: Following Greta Thunberg's example, I along with a handful of other youths began to organise the Youth Climate Strikes in Manchester. Trying to balance GCSE work alongside proved difficult, but with resilience, hard work (a few tears and restless nights) we managed to grow our climate strikes from 30 people to over 4000 attendees, After speaking in front of 4000 people, a very daunting task at 15, I had a young girl say to me "When I'm older, I want to help the world just like you are." It was this moment, where I knew that I wanted to carry on what I was doing. I knew we were making a difference. I was ecstatic.
16 yr: Juggling my studies, extracurriculars and climate strikes to continue organising proved harder than anything I had ever done before. I was exhausted. I felt like the weight of the world was on the shoulders of myself and the other people I worked with.
17 yr: I was elated to be awarded WWF's Young Hero Award for my work in climate activism and one of ‘GreenPeace's Top 30 Under 30 Climate Activists of Colour ‘Awards. I was also elected as the Head Environmental Officer; the leader of the very same society that I began my journey in. To be able to continue to inspire young people made all the stress worth it but the challenge of how I was going to turn this passion into a career remained.
Mid pandemic, our group continued to work on advertising via social media when we were unable to host climate strikes. But we were all suffering from extreme burnout, the pressure of A-levels and a lack of engagement leading us to 'disband'. This was incredibly disappointing, but we all knew that this would not be the end of our climate activism journeys.
18 yr: I anxiously applied to the University of Warwick to study Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies however my true ambition was to go to the University of Cambridge to study Land Economy. I was utterly heartbroken to receive my rejection from Cambridge University.
19 yr: Everything happens for a reason…I began my journey pursuing my degree at Warwick and I was elated to be there. Learning in depth about the Climate Crisis, the disproportionate impact it could have on Lesser Economically Developed Countries, the gender gaps and more, started to provide me with the knowledge I needed to make a difference.
20 yr: 'You would have been good at Cambridge, but you will shine in Warwick'… I was elected Vice President of Warwick's Global Sustainable Development Society. Working hard with the rest of the committee, we grew membership, created Careers Panels, academic workshops, CV training and allowed likeminded interest individuals to meet and develop their passions, socially, professionally and academically. I felt warm seeing the difference we made in a year.
21 yr: Now I am in my final year of university; hopeful but anxious about what the future holds for the world. Thankfully, with hard work, more research, action and projects such as this one, elders and youths alike are becoming increasingly aware and knowledgeable about the crisis, and are continuing to be inspired to make a change. Only time will tell what the future has to hold… but either way I will continue the fight for the planet.