11-year-old Climate Activist Travels World to Protect Environment

Thought Question: What global issue are you most passionate about? How can you make your voice heard?

When Licypriya “Licy” Kangujam of India visited the Taj Mahal in June, she was sad to see garbage all around the famous site. The fifth grader made a sign. It read: “Behind the Beauty of Taj Mahal is Plastic Pollution.” She posed for a picture in front of the monument. Licy posted the image on social media. The post went viral. The next day, the Taj Mahal’s grounds were cleaned.

The success of Licy’s online campaign was nothing new for her. She’s been protesting on behalf of environmental causes since she was six. Licy was inspired by 19-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg. She spent a week outside of India’s Parliament House advocating for climate change laws. She also started the Child Movement organization. The group presses world leaders to “take urgent climate action to save our planet and our future.”

Licy has a big following on social media. She has 21,000 followers on Instagram, 37,000 on YouTube, and 157,000 on Twitter. Recently, she traveled to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. There, she advocated for doing more to protect the environment. She raised awareness about how fossil fuels and single-use plastics hurt the Earth.  

She doesn't think her age limits her ability to make a difference. “Many people told me that I’m too young to get involved in such activism,” Licy told The Washington Post. “But … I strongly believe that children can lead the change.”

Photo by Dilanlekamge courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.