Heroes and Shereos

Heroes Corner

These are just some of the young people who decided to “Be The Change”.

Welcome to Meaningful Trips ‘Heroes Corner’. 2020 Coronavirus notwithstanding, there are many challenges facing the world today: Climate Crisis, Human Rights, Food Security, and Wars. These young people decided to ‘Be The Change’ and take action. They are inspirational. They are Meaningful!

young girl with black hair, in a t-shirt with one hand holding a microphone and the other raised in the air

Jamie Margolin, 17, Washington

Zero Hour Founder

Jamie was frustrated that youth voices were almost always ignored when it comes to climate change. She founded Zero Hour, a nonprofit international youth climate justice movement. Jamie’s 2018 Youth Climate March brought hundreds of youth to Washington, D.C., and inspired 25 sister marches around the world.

young girl with black curly hair wearing short sleeve shirt and scarf

Khloe Thompson, 13, California

Khloe Kares Founder

After a visit to Ghana and learning about the severe lack of access to clean water, Khloe knew she had to help and started the Ghana Living Water Project and raised $10,000 to install a water pump at a primary school, and plans to add more. She also started Khloe Kares after noticing homeless women and children on the streets. In a span of 4 years, she passed out 4,000 “Kare Bags” of essentials.

young man with very long dark hair in sweat suit squatting on wall

Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, 20, Colorado

Youth Director of Earth Guardians

Xiuhtezcatl (pronounced shoo-TEZ-kawt) is an indigenous, environmental activist and hip hop artist. He has been a powerful voice in the climate justice movement since he was six years old. As Youth Director of Earth Guardians, a worldwide conservation organization, Xiuhtezcatl uses art, music, storytelling, and civic action to inspire and mobilize young people in the fight to protect our planet.

Girl with serious face dressed in yellow hooded raincoat

Greta Thunberg, 17, Sweden

Started School Strike For Climate

Back in 2018, frustrated with world leaders who failed to address the urgent climate crisis, Greta, sat by herself in front of parliament in a school strike for the climate. Her movement grew, reaching hundreds of thousands of students. In March 2019, inspired by Thunberg, nearly a million students in more than 100 nations carried out marches protesting climate inaction. Check this out: Time magazine’s 100 most influential people. Youngest Time Person of the Year. Forbes list of The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize!

young Indian girl in sari with long black hair standing at podium

Payal Jangid, 14, India

First Indian to Receive the Changemaker Award

After escaping from child slavery in Delhi, Payal Jangid, 14 at the time, became an advocate for girls’ education and won a World Children’s Prize for her work with rural communities in India. She’s now the leader of her town’s Child Parliament, working to make her village “child-friendly” by educating the community about domestic violence and child marriage.

woman with light brown hair and pink scarf smiles at camera

Madea Benjamin, USA

Co-Founder of Code Pink & Global Exchange

CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.

Do You Know A Hero?