Kids like you can make a difference for wildlife and the environment. Meet some inspiring young heroes who have turned their love of animals into action! 

Mallayka Ianna Oddenyo, 2021 International Young Eco-Hero

When six-year-old Mallayka Ianna Oddenyo took a boat ride with her mom on Lake Victoria near her home in Kenya, she was heartbroken. “I saw a dead fish floating in the water with its head stuck inside a plastic bottle,” Mallayka says. “My eyes were opened to the pollution in the lake and all the plastics in the nearby landfill.” Then she knew she had to act.

Mallayka started working with people in her community. Now 13, Mallayka organizes a cleanup each week. She takes the plastic trash they find and upcycles it, turning it into useful objects such as bags, bracelets, and vases. She’s even started making clothes with plastic pieces, which she models in competitions. In 2021, Mallayka received the International Young Eco-Hero Award. Her dream is to one day have a recycling plant near Lake Victoria. For now, she’s calling for people to do their part to take care of the environment. “Let’s raise our voices,” she says.

Meet more kid superstars!

Do you have a story to share about helping wildlife and the environment? Email us at buzz@nwf.org. We love hearing everyone’s stories, but we are able to feature only a few of them. All submissions become the property of the National Wildlife Federation.