CONNECTOR.AE 48 CONNECTOR.AE 49 Lifestyle Lifestyle Himakshi Shastri: A 17 Year Old Creating A Sustainable World There is no denying that the younger generation is the future of the world and with the age of social media and the rise of technology, many have been using its power to make their voices heard as well as fighting for what they believe in. in number. I could see a physical, emotional and mental toll on people.” Wanting to make a difference, Himakshi said, “At the age of 10, I wrote an open letter to the United Nations Secretary-General speaking about the impacts of climate change. That letter actually got recognised by Oxford University, where I was invited to give a talk.” After giving the talk and going through a surreal experience at a young age, Himakshi, on returning to the UAE, was all the more determined to make a difference in the world and began her mission of making education on climate change more accessible to all. From then on, Himakshi has slowly but surely worked on raising more awareness, where she was part of a radio show Pearl 102 FM, and was also working as a journalist with Khaleej Times for the Young Times section, where she spread awareness on the dangers of climate change, and the small steps that can be taken by people that, over Himakshi Shastri is a 17-year-old climate activist, environmentalist, author and debater in the UAE, and is a great example of using the tools, and various mediums available to her, to stand up for things she cares about and make the difference she envisions for the world, one step at a time. Not many young people are able to shape the world they would like to live in, especially as students with social life and education being a main priority. However, Himakshi has managed to find a balance and has since created a brand, launched initiatives and started building her legacy from a young age. Starting at the age of 10, Himakshi was first introduced to the drastic impacts of climate change and the toll it can take on the human race, as well as the environment, when her family in Florida, America, were caught in the middle of Hurricane Irma, which was a Category 5 hurricane that took place in September 2017, leaving many without homes and stranded. Himakshi said, “I remember getting on Zoom calls, and there was a constant fear of being in a natural disaster. Straight after that, I realised that climate change is not just an issue that few generations are going to face, it is an issue that is prevalent now my family was dealing with it at the time, and I knew I had to do something about it.” “When we read about natural disasters in the news, I feel like there is that disconnect, unless you actually speak to someone that is genuinely witnessing it. I think that is what pushed me to being involved in the climate movement,” Himakshi further added. “Natural disasters we hear on the news almost every day, at this point, are increasing
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzU4NjA=