Nonprofit Action for Nature is now taking applications for the 2010 International Young Eco-Hero Awards. This special award honors kids aged 8 to 16 with top accomplishments in environmental advocacy, environmental health or environmental research. Hurry and get those applications in! The deadline for applications is Sunday, February 28th 2010. What a great way to honor and show encouragement to eco-friendly kids doing good things for the world and its overall health.
Award winners can receive up to $500 in prize money and recognition for their efforts.
The charity has awarded quite a few youths the Eco-Hero award since its first year. There are First Place winners and Honorable Mentions. Action for Nature has awarded the International Young Eco-Hero Award for eight years now. So far the organization has honored 90 youths from 13 countries and 24 U.S.A. states. It is simply awe-inspiring what many of these children think to create for the world – when some adults feel they cannot do a thing for the environment. Congratulations not only to the children who won an award – but to every child who entered this important contest as each of them is making a critical difference for the environment.
We are especially impressed by recent winner Otana Jakpor, a 16-year-old who researched air purifiers and ozone emissions. Jakpor has been an advocate for environmental change in California. She has been successful in her efforts, with California now the very first state to regulate ozone-generations as the DIRECT result of Jakpor’s efforts! Jakpor is an official spokesperson for the American Lung Association and has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency. Her work has been published in several science journals. Way to go Jakpor!
We know that Jakpor’s efforts will have a great difference in air quality and help people to breathe better. How significant her findings have been, to inspire a STATEWIDE regulation on their very own! To think a 16-year-old youth was as serious and dedicated to help find these findings related to ozone emissions is incredible. How many people will be affected by Jakpor’s work? It is an awesome thought indeed. We do hope Jakpor continues her passion for eco-friendly work and scientific discovery.
Clean air and air purifiers can make a great difference in our lives. Having clean air to breathe can improve one’s quality of life. When you don’t have clean air to breathe, it leaves you vulnerable to infection and sometimes means you simply aren’t getting enough oxygen. With Jakpor’s findings, oxygen will be improved and many will receive a better quality of life as a result. What a tremendous thing she has done – even at the young age of 16. We are excited to think of what she will do when she is in her 20s or her 30s!
Other 2009 winners include:
Cameron Oliver, First Place. Age 12. Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
“Save the Camel Campaign”
Cameron loves animals, both wild and domestic. He knows that the camels of the Middle East are important to the world. Cameron wanted to make people conscious of what littering did for camels. He used a variety of media – from TV, magazines and newspapers – to share his message. He even gave a presentation to His Highness Khalid Bin Zayed Al Nayan, Crown Prince and Supreme ruler of Abu Dhabi. Cameron also created t-shirts, bumperstickers and the website www.cameronscamelcampaign.com.
Two other First Place winners were chosen, Adeline Tiffanie Suwana, Age 12, Kelapa Gading Permai, Indonesia. “Saving Indonesia.” And Eric Uebelacker, age 12, Maryland, U.S.A.. “A Book for Butterflies.”
Action for Nature was started by Shimon Schwartzschild. It is a U.S.A. originated nonprofit organization “to inspire young people to act for the environment and protect the natural world in their own neighborhood and around the world.” The charity has published a book, Acting for Nature that shares the story of youths around the world who have helped the environment in amazing ways.
Sources:
http://green.blogs.starnewsonline.com/
http://www.actionfornature.org/
