Dear Eco-lovers,

I am glad to share with all of you that recently I was awarded 'Ambassador for the Environment 2018' by GESS-Global education awards. The award ceremony was in Dubai on 28^th Feb but I was not present as I have been here in the UK for my studies.

This award is about celebrating the education industry's best and the brightest and it includes awards like 'Community award for citizenship' and 'Ambassador for Environment' in the individual category. I was informed that I was one of the 10 finalists. I read about all other finalists and felt that everyone is doing such a great job benefitting the environment and communities at large, including environmentalist teacher, a social worker from Bahrain and all across the Middle East and North Africa region. Honestly, I did not expect to win because all the finalists were awesome in their eco-efforts. I was pleasantly surprised when the news and winning trophy reached me that I have won along with another finalist Lisa.

I dedicate this award to Tunza Eco Generation for shaping my eco-personality and to all the eco-conscious people, all of you for helping protect the environment. We put a lot of efforts in our various campaigns, workshops, projects and awareness sessions to promote and protect the environment with an objective of saving the Mother Earth and saving the global community from the havoc of global warming. If during that journey, we get such awards, it feels good and confirms that we are on the right path and inspires us to continue with more enthusiasm and pro-activeness.

Another good news:   The 30th-anniversary celebration of Global Youth Service Day is April 20-22, which is also Earth Day (April 22). Youth Service America is celebrating the youth changing the world.  On this occasion, I  have been honoured as 'Everyday Young Hero' by 'YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA-Youth Changing the World'.

Below is the link to the announcement with my story:

https://leadasap.ysa.org/share_story/everyday-young-hero-arushi-madan/

I am happy that this award, this organisation, their motive of celebrating the youth changing the world is in sync with this year theme of our Tunza Eco Generation platform. Yes, the 2018 theme of Tunza Eco Generation –'The Youth Change Makers- to bring us a resilient future'.

Let's we, the youth bring the change we wish to see, let's be the change makers rather than the change seekers. Let us continue with our eco-actions with an objective of  'Increasing our handprints, reducing our footprints' and shape a resilient future for all of us and our future generations.