Environmental Champion:
Planet Protector
of the year
From litter-picking and beach clean-ups to environmental campaigning, this category celebrates the young people who go above and beyond to care for the environment – protecting the planet for future generations to come.
Congratulations to Lila, the Environmental Champion: Planet Protector of the Year winner!
lila
Lila’s love of the outdoors is what first inspired her to sign up for DofE, and from the first expedition she was "hooked” and determined to take her journey from Bronze all the way to Gold.
That love of nature and the outdoors has since become a passion for environmental campaigning, and Lila has been volunteering with Barry Birchgrove Conservation Group for the last four years, planting trees, litter-picking and protecting native species in the community on her weekends. She is also a member of Keep Wales Tidy Youth Board and is a Youth Climate Ambassador for Wales – advocating, campaigning and networking to protect the environment and people vulnerable to environmental hazards.
"I think I’ve always been really motivated to get involved and give back to the community."
It’s for her passion and commitment that Lila has won This is Youth 2023’s Planet Protector of the Year, which recognises young people who go above and beyond to protecting the planet for generations to come.
"The one thing I’d say to other young people is to just get involved in any way you can. We all need to work together to make a difference."
As well as her volunteering work, in school Lila has been instrumental in introducing environmentally-friendly changes, such as a weekly vegetarian day in the canteen and water fountains which, over the last four years, have saved students using thousands of plastic bottles.
Lila says a conservation trip to Indonesia this year made her realise that every action can have a global effect. She hopes to continue to inspire other young people to get involved in environmental campaigning because, she believes, working together is the best way to protect the planet for future generations.
"My visit to Indonesia made me feel every action we take can really make changes globally as well as locally."
Watch the video to hear more from Lila.
special mention
Read Ryan's incredible story, he was a special mention for Planet Protector of the Year at This is Youth 2023.
Ryan
With 2023 being described as one of the hottest years on record, Ryan says that climate change and environmental issues are always in the back of his mind. He had always been a conscientious member of his school community, so started litter-picking around his school grounds with the ambition of making the school a more nature-friendly and positive environment.
Fast forward 18 months and Ryan has shown an unwavering commitment to the project, litter-picking every lunchtime without fail, no matter the weather, and being a proactive member of the school’s eco committee.
"Litter-picking gave me a purpose each day."
A big draw for Ryan is the chance to be outdoors in nature – something he finds "peaceful". He has become a recognisable face in school, being a positive role model for younger students and raising awareness of environmental issues. "I think people are more conscious of dropping litter now. People around school know me and what I do each day, and I guess I like that."
Meet the judges
Alan Titchmarsh MBE DL and 2023-24 UK Youth Ambassador, Lauren judged the Innovator of the Year category. Get to know them.
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