Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun

At just 14 years old, Ellyanne has been a catalyst for planting over 1.3 million trees in different countries, including mangroves in coastal communities in Kenya. She has received numerous accolades, including Kenya’s prestigious Mashujaa (Hero) Award in 2018 alongside Eliud Kipchoge, the Eco-Warrior Award and the title of Youngest Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 2019, and was nominated for the International Children’s Peace Prize in 2023. A published author of three books, she is writing her fourth on Artificial Intelligence and Technology for Good. In partnership with Africa AI, Ellyanne has trained over 200 children and teens on basic AI, ChatGPT, and Microsoft Dall-E skills. She has also led #endplasticsoup campaigns with Rotary International to rid the Ocean and rivers of plastic pollution and contributed to the #BeatPlasticPollution campaign by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

In 2023, Ellyanne was named the Youngest Global Malaria Ambassador and became a Public Health Champion, speaking at events for the UNFCCC and World Health Organization including COP28, while visiting malaria-affected communities in Zimbabwe and Kenya, highlighting the intersections of climate change and health in addressing malaria challenges. Additionally, she became the youngest champion appointed by the Ministry of Environment & Forestry to the Michuki Memorial Park Rehabilitation project, a green space in the capital city of Kenya Nairobi, that became an escape for families during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other leaders, she helped launch and officially open Michuki Park to the public.