Winning an United Nations award is quite unique . To win it during the biggest conference on Earth , is absolutely special . My years of work on combatting land degradation was chosen by United Nations amongst hundreds of applicants on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification in Rio de Janeiro during the Earth Summit .

At 12 years , I was the youngest ever to receive this award and this shows that we children too can make a difference and our work has now found recognition at the highest level.

The agency then invited me to be a panel member of the United Nations press conference which was telecast live on UN TV and telecast on giant screens across Rio Centro and watched by thousands of delegates.

I WAS THE YOUNGEST EVER DELEGATE TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE UNITED NATIONS WHICH IS A UNIQUE RECORD AND HONOUR AND I BEGAN MY SPEECH BY INTRODUCING MYSELF AS THE ECOGEN AMBASSADOR .

My speech is live on youtube as below :

http://youtu.be/NmEoQT0zE_Q

It was a privilege to share the stage and speak on the same podium with global personalities such as the Executive Secretary of United Nations and the PRESIDENT of the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND!

The Executive Secretary was so impressed with my speech that he presented me with a special United Nations badge which is now my most cherished possession.

After the press conference , I received interview calls from several TV and newspapers from countries across the world . The largest Arabic newspaper from the Middle East ran a detailed article on me and my work as the voice of the children from the Middle East at Rio+20.

While in Brazil , I received a special message from my School Principal saying the whole school was so proud of my work !