CHILDREN'S CLIMATE PRIZE WINNER 2018

She wants to make this product available to those who do not have access to electricity in their daily lives. She got the idea for ​​the device when she visited relatives in India and experienced long power outages. Today, 1.2 billion people lack access to electricity, Maanasa wants to change that.

Further information: The device is called HARVEST. It's an energy converter that uses the effect of the wind, rainfall and the sun in a simple leaf-shaped design. When the blade is bent by wind and precipitation or exposed to sunlight, it produces an electrical charge. Maanasa has made several prototypes that function both as temporary sources of energy in emergencies but can also be permanently mounted on buildings, bridges or fences. The gadget is made from recycled components such as plastic bottles and foil. Maanasa is collaborating with the University of Cincinnati, has spoken on TEDxVienna, been nominated by Forbes' for their 30 under 30 Energy List, and has won several competitions worldwide.

The jury's motivation: Working out how electricity can be made available to all, at only 15 years of age, requires a certain amount of brilliance, and Maanasa has got plenty of it! She has created Harvest, a product that costs less than $ 5 to manufacture and which generates renewable energy from the sun, wind and water. A smart and easy design available to all, with the potential to change the lives of many millions of people worldwide!

Therefore, this group of young adults are taking the Colombian government to trial to force them to stop the destruction of the Amazon and to protect the rights of future generations.

Further information: The Colombian Supreme Court has, so far, decided on behalf of the group and urged the Colombian government to draw up a short, medium and long-term action plan to combat deforestation in the Amazon region and to create a sustainable plan for the area in consultation with the children and adolescents. This has increased public awareness of the relationship between the forest and climate change. People have also been able to support the youth's initiative on change.org with the campaign: "Let's stop deforestation completely in the Colombian Amazon," which received over 32,261 signatures.

The jury's motivation: With impressive knowledge and motivation to press for change and for getting organized, 25 Voices in Colombia succeeded in a seemingly impossible mission to counteract the wreckage of the Amazon. By using the judiciary and existing legislation, they have, both intelligently and admirably, managed to protect the rainforests and with it their own future.

Composting and recycling is relatively new to Ukraine and has only been done, small scale, in the countryside earlier. Thanks to the project, children in schools now learn to sort and compost waste.

Further information: The children started Compola, an initiative that manages waste and garbage for composting and recycling. Together with Ukraine's Eco-Ministry and the Ministry for Education, Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna started a composting competition, getting 200 schools to start composting food waste. The plan is to eventually have all of Ukraine's 17 500 schools sorting and composting.

The jury's motivation: Composting and recycling haven't been widely spread in Ukraine, and it takes courage and persistence to launch projects from the ground, both of which Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna are equipped with. Thanks to project Compola, children in Ukrainian schools now learn to sort and compost waste. Identifying a problem and doing something about it, going from words to actions, is exactly what Nikita and Sofia-Khrystyna have done!

This way, kids learn to care about the environment whilst at the same time learning about the value of money. In addition, they can also buy goods from the bank. The children can get microcredit and José Adolfo teaches them to invest. This gives them financial opportunities that they would never otherwise have, an economic independence where they are not dependent on others (e.g. parents) and a system where expending equals a loan that is paid back with recycling and climate awareness.

Further information: José's eco-bank, together with his partners, transforms recycling and environmental awareness into a currency that children can use to buy products at the bank or exchange into real money. The children can start their own bank accounts where they deposit their collected waste which they can use to save and eventually withdraw money. They can also borrow money and then pay with collected waste. Today there are 10 education centres with over 3000 actively engaged children and adolescents. The bank has attracted attention worldwide and José has received several environmental prizes. The bank holds the certificate: "Social Technology" since 2017, granted by the Bank of Brazil and the World Bank.

The jury's motivation: José's eco-bank is a brilliant way of linking economy and climate impact, both in thought and practice. Children can take micro loans, and pay, with items that are recyclable. The system clearly illustrates that the planet's common resources are limited and that we must be climate conscious and recycle the products that we no longer use. It creates awareness of consumption. This way caring about the environment becomes an investment. A system that gives children both economic independence and power to influence the climate. The potential impact is amazing.

with Telge Energis 180 000 customers, the company actively engages in the transition to renewable and sustainable energy with the aim set for “2030 Agenda” and the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations Development Programme. The company has positioned themselves as an independent alternative to the dominant players in the energy industry.

In partnership with the Swedish section of the World Wildlife Fund, the company invests in climate initiatives such as sustainable hydropower, solar powered schools and smart water treatment plants, in both Sweden and the world. The aim is to give people better conditions, a brighter future and a sustainable planet.

Swedish krona to the prize award. That way we raise the prize together and create awareness about the most important issue of our time.Together we create awareness about the great initiatives taken by young people regarding the climate and environment. Besides the prize money of minimum 50 000 SEK the winner receives a medal and a diploma.

How do I raise the prize?

Do you have a friend who is into making the world a better place? Tag your friends in one of our Facebook posts dedicated to raise the prize and we will raise the prize money with 10 SEK for each comment with a tag! Tag your firends here!