Moksha Roy, aged 7, was honoured by the British Prime Minister Mr Rishi Sunak with the Points of Light award on 13th July, and heartily commended by UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Oliver Dowden for her continued advocacy for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
Moksha has been the world’s youngest sustainability advocate who started advocating against microplastic pollution since she was just 3 years old; supported by the Archbishop of Canterbury and the UN task force. At age 5, she wrote letters to all 193 world leaders, urging them to introduce the UN SDGs into their national curriculums, to ensure children can learn about the SDGs and then act on major global issues ranging from climate change, gender inequality to plastic pollution. World leaders replied back commending her and promised to implement her request.
Amongst others, Moksha received a public commendation from President Paula-Mae Weekes, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago: “Like Moksha, Malala and Greta, we all have a role to play in safeguarding the future and sustainability of our world”.
The UK government commended her for her timely request, and included her request in the Department for Education’s Sustainability and Climate Change strategy, that has now been rolled out to over 16 million children and young people in the UK.
Seven-year-old Moksha continues to educate young people about sustainability in the UK and is reaching millions of children around the world through radio, press and online platforms. Moksha volunteers for several sustainability campaigns, while hoping to inspire others to do the same, such as raising funds to help children in need for UNICEF by giving up her birthday gifts, by volunteering to educate over one billion children and their families about microplastic pollution and how to prevent it, including to children in 24,000 UK schools and colleges.
Moksha continues to assist in educational sessions conducted by the Centre for Big Synergy, a United Nations CSO, for deprived children around the world. She has provided messages at events including one for world leaders and the people of the world at COP27.
Moksha becomes the 2086th person to receive the British Prime Minister’s Points of Light award, which was launched in 2014 to recognise people making a difference in their communities.
Quotes
UK’s Deputy Prime Minister, The Rt Hon Oliver Dowden CBE, said: “Moksha has set an excellent example in her work championing UN SDGs. She has gone to significant lengths to have these included in the school curriculum and has been in communication with leaders all over the world to encourage them to consider this. She feels strongly that education and individual action is crucial for fighting climate change, and her passion should serve as inspiration to others.”
Moksha said: “I am very happy to receive the Points of Light award. I hope both children and adults get to understand that caring for the planet and its people and making small changes to everyday life should not be just for a few. It is just like brushing our teeth. We brush our teeth to care for it and avoid pain; similarly we can take care of the planet not for anyone else, but just us, to be safe.
“Each and every one of us can do small things in their own lives, work and community to combat the big challenges such as climate change, pollution, poverty and inequality. It is only when everyone starts taking positive actions, can we have a safer planet and a sustainable future.”
Moksha’s parents, Dr. Ragini G Roy and Dr. Sourav Roy, added: “This is a crucial point in the history of the world given the devastating impact of climate change around us. What Moksha is doing shows us that even the youngest in society has as important a role in creating a tangible impact when it comes to acting on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. We support her efforts in creating a fair, safe and sustainable world for everyone.”
