Physics Teacher, Trainer and Volunteer

I am pleased to share some promising developments that have emerged following my attendance at the YRE workshop six years ago. At that time, I was greatly inspired by theYRE training programme and found it extremely motivating to share the knowledge and skills gained with my students. Following the insights I gained from the programme, I initiated a number of projects with the objective of raising environmental awareness among my students.

Head of Environment - VINCI Energies Portugal

I am 40 years old and I live with my husband and two daughters in a quiet village near Lisbon.

I studied Environment and Health and my career has developed firstly in the environment/safety construction area. I have made a post-graduation in Sustainable Management in 2015.

After 13 dedicated to Quality, Environment and Safety, first as technician and then as QHSE manager at Sotécnica, a VINCI Energies business unit specialising in integrated engineering solutions, I started a new challenge as head of environment, since January 2022 for VINCI Energies Portugal. My role is to promote and develop actions around VINCI’s three focus areas: climate, circular economy and biodiversity. We set the strategy to be followed and apply it in two ways. First, by organising cross-cutting activities with the various VINCI Energies business lines. And second, by supporting the initiatives taken in the three focus areas by each of our subsidiaries.

It is a pleasure and a big challenge to continue working on this emergent and demanding topic!

Connect with me on LinkedIn!

YRE Coordinator in Slovakia

When I look back at the past years, it seems incredible what I have gone through and experienced in the Young Reporters program. I started in elementary school as a student and fell in love with writing which led me to study journalism and deepen my skills to write various genres. Later, I continued my studies in environmental studies, so it seems my life path so far mirrors the content of the program. Thanks to the program and experiences from international and national workshops, I also received various job opportunities. I had the chance to work as an intern in an international office, which gave me a valuable insight into the background of the program. I used this experience when writing my thesis at the end of my studies, which dealt with the program’s contribution to active citizenship. This whole journey led me to the opportunity to become a freelance journalist and program coordinator in Slovakia, and I am excited about what else the Young Reporters will bring into my life! I consider my journey as proof that the program has much to offer students, even if they are involved for several years, and it brings great challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Connect with me on LinkedIn!

Youth Advocate

I am a Global Youth Power leader working under the #YouthPower campaign initiated by Restless Development, a Youth-led organization based in UK to empower young people to make leaders accountable to the SDGs. I am a film maker who produce videos for advocacy purposes to engage young people on different issues. I am currently serving on YRE Ghana youth board as the social media and communication officer.

Marketing at Oceanic Global, Environmental Activist and Zoologist

My journey with the Young Reporters for the Environment (YRE) program began in 2014, and it has been an incredible experience ever since. Through YRE, I’ve had the privilege of attending prestigious conferences such as the YRE-UNESCO Youth Forum in Portugal, COP24 in Poland, and La Nuit des Idées in France. These opportunities allowed me to develop my skills as an activist and connect with like-minded individuals, further fueling the passion that drives both my professional and personal endeavors.

Since then, I’ve earned a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Zoology and gained diverse experiences in zoological institutions, all while nurturing my dedication to conservation. Today, I am proud to be part of the Marketing team at Oceanic Global, a global ocean conservation non-profit organization.

YRE has profoundly shaped my career path, equipping me with the skills and insights needed to excel in the field of conservation and sustainability. I am forever grateful for the opportunities it provided, the skills I developed, and the motivation it instilled in me to create positive change through collective action.

Connect with me on LinkedIn!

Student

As a freelance graphic designer, I enjoy taking on projects that promote sustainability and incorporate the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that I learned during my fieldwork with YRE. Some of my previous projects include collaborating with a sustainable apparel brand addressing environmental issues in Toronto, where I am based. You can find the project here. I also had the opportunity to work with an agency in LA on an Earth Day campaign for the Metrolink urban train which you can view here. I am very proud of these projects and their positive impact on society. Although I'm currently aspiring to be a tattoo artist, I still draw on the experiences I gained from the YRE program, despite my photography and journaling being less central to my work.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

Student

I am an undergraduate student at the University of British Columbia studying nutrition within the context of food security and environmental sustainability. I first participated in the YRE program in 2015 with an article on my school's waste management solutions. Thanks to YRE, I most recently had the opportunity to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference as a young journalist last November 2017.

Coordinator

I am a young professional working in business and social organizations. Throughout my work in different organizations, I emphasize the importance of youth participation in decision making processes connected to global agendas and its implementation on local, national and international level. My engagement in YRE program started while I was in high school. In 2013 we won the national YRE contest in the category "Young reporters stories".

PHD candidate/Researcher

My name is Anastasia and I live in Athens. I am a Phd Candidate in International Law and Environmental Governance at Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences. I used to work as a journalist. I am a SDG enthusiast, thus, I believe that they are a breakthrough on how people around the world, can understand the concept of sustainable development. I have created an awareness campaign #Citizens4GlobalGoals for Organization Earth, a Greek NGO, after my participation at COP21 in Paris. Since 2016 I am a researcher at European Center of Environmental Research and Training in the field of 2030 Agenda.

Student

I am a 24 years-old French student at the Centre de Formation des Journalistes, a school of journalism based in Paris. I got graduated from a Bachelor in law and I lived in Mexico for a year thanks to a student exchange program. There I have been an intern in a local TV and in a newspaper. I am willing to work as a correspondent in Latin America and I am quite interested in this region, politics and sustainable issues.

Trainer

I have been pursuing my studies at the National University of Mongolia, writing my thesis on ecological education and I want to write my PhD in the field of education for sustainable development. My passion is to increase awareness among secondary school students towards low carbon emission lifestyle. This is the reason why I want to become a part of the YRE in Mongolia. YRE have a responsibility to youth by not just informing them, but also giving them a chance to talk about real issues that affect them about sustainability.

Student - Information and Communication Technology

I am a student at Ahmedabad University in India pursuing my Bachelor of Technology in Information and Communication Technology. I have been involved with many different environmental and leadership initiatives in my university and I enjoy learning about sustainability and how technology can be used to achieve sustainable development. In 2019, I was given the opportunity to travel to Thailand to participate in the 10th World Environmental Education Congress as a YRE. I am currently in the pre-final year of my degree course and pursuing a career that combines technology and the environment.

Journalist

I'm 23 years old and I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico. I joined the YRE program in 2019 when I took a series of environmental journalism workshops with the Organization for a Sustainable Environment (OPAS). Thanks to those workshops I wrote an article about coastal erosion and its relations to climate change and human intervention. The article won third place internationally and, shortly after that, I was able to participate as an observer at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain. At COP25 I wrote and recorded interviews on climate change, gender, and indigenous communities. All these experiences motivated me to become even more interested in our environment and the role we humans have in it. Recently, I completed a bachelor's degree in Journalism and Comparative Literature at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus. And now, I work as a Puerto Rican journalist in Global Press Journal, a news organization that trains and employs women to produce high-quality local news coverage that elevates awareness and ignites social change.

Sustainability Professional

Aian Binlayo is an award-winning, corporate sustainability and environmental communications professional with a proven track record in helping organizations plan and execute their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategy. From Fortune 500 to family-owned businesses, he has worked with companies across industries on their sustainability reporting, stakeholder engagement, and corporate social responsibility programs. Aian is a graduate from Harvard University, where he majored in Environmental Science and Public Policy.

Student

I have always loved writing. One evening, I was looking through the Young Scot website and found a competition whereby it was to write a report on an environmental issue. I decided to write about air pollution. I was chosen as the winner for the competition - The Young Reporters Scotland award for the Year of Young People 2018.

Student

I am deeply concerned about environmental issues and have an unbridled passion for the sea and the life that there exists. The adventure as a YRE began in 2011 when a teacher of mine introduced me to the programme. At first, I was taken aback since I had never dreamt to be a journalist, though my love for the environment and nature made me become interested in discovering the project. Since then I have participated in several missions, seminars, contests, workshops, and conferences, and I am eager to continue to be a part of it since it has just got me fond memories, loads of good friends, knowledge and the opportunity to develop new skills.

Student

I am from Rotorua, New Zealand. I am a first year University of Waikato student. While I was in high school at John Paul College in Rotorua I was involved in many environmentally focused sustainability projects including YRE, winning the 2016 NZ YRE film competition in the 15-18 year old category through Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

Student

I was first introduced to photography during secondary 2 when my teacher was looking for a photographer for a school event. It was from that day onward I was involved in more events and from there I was able to improve my skill in photography. I was privileged to be able to part of the photography team for the eco conference. I was also introduced to WWF during one of the workshops that ITE and my lecturers were conducting. That in turn opened my eyes to another world.

Chef/ Student

In 2016, I embarked on a 10-week expedition volunteering with Raleigh International in Borneo, Malaysia. Whilst abroad I worked on local sustainable development projects. I also witnessed the effects of deforestation from the palm oil industry and illegal logging. This firsthand experience has heightened my awareness of the importance of creating a more sustainable future.

Journalist

I am a freshly graduated 27 years old journalist from France. I have worked as a intern-reporter in China, the USA, Cambodia and India, which grew my interest for international and environmental issues. Last year, I won one of the French YRE award for my report on sustainable scuba diving in Marseille, and I was really thrilled about it!

Student

I am a student at the University of Toronto in Canada studying Economics. I have been involved with many different environmental and leadership initiatives since high school and I enjoy learning about sustainability and various environmental initiatives. In 2014, I was given the opportunity to travel to Sweden to participate in an international YRE workshop and learn more about the environment in a global perspective alongside other youth reporters and journalists.

Student

I am currently in my second year at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, part of the University of Lisbon. I have been enrolled in the YRE programme for 5 years so far, and I have taken part in two national missions in Portugal and three abroad. In November 2017, I was selected to represent YRE at COP23.

Tour guide

I'm a Basque girl living in Portugal since 2012. I studied environmental sciences at the University of the Basque Country, and Master degree in Ecology and Territory at the University of Porto. I did an investigation with plants in the herbarium of Vila Real and worked in a company of environmental impact assessment. Recently concerned about waste issues, I'm very interested in the Zero Waste movement. The YRE Youth Forum in 2018 was my first experience with YRE.

Student

I decided to be a journalist because I think that social media has the greatest impact on people. So, I could use my voice to make good changes. Those changes also include bigger ecological awareness and implementing sustainable development in my country. Right now, I am writing for one of Serbias newspapers and my goal so far is to introduce and expand the importance of environmental and ecological state in our country.

Journalist

After graduating in Journalism, I started to work in environmental protection as an intern at ABAE in 2011. I did my Master's thesis on environment NGOs. During my internship I participated in my first YRE mission. Being a journalism student, I feel it is crucial to teach and learn about the value of their role in a society in which environmental awareness is increasingly important. Nowadays, I am part of the communication team at ABAE, which allows me to be aware of the progress of environmental awareness in Portugal.

Student

I completed my Communication degree at the University of Lisbon and I intend to do a Master’s degree in environmental journalism with the purpose of promoting eco-citizenship through my work. I exchanged feedback and experiences with talented minds and passionate hearts at the World Conference of Science Journalists 2017, in San Francisco. I was one of the 22 journalism students at the WCSJ on a travel fellowship and had the opportunity to be part of an incredible multicultural student newsroom and to learn from scientists and science writers alike.

Student

When I started with the articles and photos for YRE, I was only 15 and it helped me discover what I like to do and what I am good at. Now, photography and writing are not only my passions: I work using them. YRE has been an opportunity to see myself in another way and this brought me more confidence and helped me to be more open.

Student

22 years old French girl, studying journalism. I was born in Paris but I feel more like a girl from the world, who loves playing with clichés, and keeps an open mind. The YRE Youth Forum in Portugal was my first expereince with YRE.

I have been working as a YRE since 2015; it all started in high school in Lisbon, Portugal, after being selected to participate in a national mission, followed by an ex-situ conservation mission and articles published on the Portuguese and international YRE online platforms. Being a YRE has provided me with many unique opportunities to grow as a young journalist by meeting and interviewing people from different backgrounds, including decision-makers and activists, who are committed to sustainability, especially during the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 24.

Student

With my great co-creator Martins Seleckis we have won one of the YRE ''Litter Less'' video competitions a couple years ago. I also went to a conference on ESD in Japan in 2015 and a YRE mission in Portugal...both incredible and unforgettable experiences. All in all, I have met the most amazing people and it has been a kickstart to my international career as now I am an international student in Denmark.

Student

I am 21 years old and I am from Škofja Loka, where I study at the Faculty for Organizational Sciences. From a young age I have felt a deep connection with the environment so in middle school my passion led me to pursue different projects like responsible food handling and usage of local food, waste separation and recycling. My faculty gave me the opportunity to be a part of the YRE.

Creative Director & Environmental Designer

I am the Creative Director & Partner at Level Studio Inc., an Interior Design firm in Toronto. I can proudly say that I am a creative designer who wears multiple hats having a keen interest and passion for interior design, urban planning and creating environmentally friendly spaces. Being a YRE Alumni has been an important catalyst that inspires my passion for sustainable methodologies that shape my vision for an environmentally friendly world.