Rubbish

Lester Dellosa deserves to be recognized in the Future Minds 35 Under 35 list for their trailblazing work in environmental artivism through CICCADA, a creative platform he founded in 2022 that has championed climate storytelling and ocean advocacy through fashion, film, and community collaboration.

Through CICCADA, Lester has worked with two coastal communities in the Bicol region, building a mermaid-led movement that merges myth, media, and environmental justice:

• In Year 1, CICCADA launched Sirena sa Sayong, a 2-month artivism campaign led by an “angry mermaid” calling out ocean pollution. The campaign reached 300,000+ individuals, igniting youth conversations about marine protection.
• Year 2 followed with Sa Puro, a sequel film featuring three beauty queens as mermaids swimming through the polluted coast of Puro, Legazpi City. Created in partnership with SK Puro (Sangguniang Kabataan) leaders and local youth, the film became a community tool that catalyzed action. It directly contributed to the city mayor approving and installing a waste filtration system in the nearby river - a clear example of storytelling leading to policy change.
• In Year 3, CICCADA transformed its campaigns into educational tools, repurposing materials from the mermaid series into academic references, immersion kits, and ocean conservation workshop modules now used by student researchers and educators. From friends in the local scene to activist friends working in Greenpeace Philippines, the mermaid0led modules has made a significant splash.
• In Year 4, CICCADA is expanding its impact with a campaign in Masbate Island, in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Masbate. This time, the mermaids serve as symbolic resistance against extractive mining practices on one of the most exploited islands in the region.

Beyond the mermaid trilogy, Lester also partnered with Sustainable Ocean Alliance Philippines to roll out 7-week ocean learning programs across Palawan, Bicol, and Negros Oriental. Since 2024, the program has trained 50+ young ocean leaders, building youth capacity in environmental advocacy, storytelling, and community engagement.

Lastly, CICCADA is now behind ASEAN’s first-ever comic book on ocean conservation and deep-sea mining, which was created in collaboration with SOA Philippines. The book has completed 5 successful advocacy tours across Luzon and Visayas, and its digital webtoon adaptation has begun reaching wider audiences online.

Amanullah Porag stands as a bold, strategic, and deeply committed changemker whose leadership is actively shaping the future of climate governance in Bangladesh and beyond. As the founder and Executive Director of Youth4NDCs, Porag has pioneered the country’s first youth-led, multi-stakeholder platform dedicated entirely to integrating young people into the processes around Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—the climate action plans each country submits under the Paris Agreement.

Porag’s work exemplifies both systemic impact and transformative innovation. Where climate policy has long been inaccessible to youth, Porag has built a mechanism through which young people, especially from marginalized and climate-vulnerable backgrounds, can meaningfully engage, critique, and co-author national policy. Under his leadership, Youth4NDCs produced the NDC (YOU)TH Review, the first-ever youth-led analysis of Bangladesh’s NDC, launched a national campaign declaring 2025 as the ‘Year of People’s NDC’, and led over 50 youth-led organizations through technical and strategic support to participate in climate action planning.

Porag belongs on the Future Minds Under 35 list not only because of the scale and influence of his work, but because he represents a powerful vision: one where youth are not tokens in climate discussions, but respected stakeholders and co-creators of national climate ambitions. His leadership is reshaping what climate justice, governance, and youth power look like in South Asia.

How many people were impacted? And who were they?

Amanullah Porag’s work through Youth4NDCs has directly impacted over 20,000 individuals, with a strong emphasis on inclusion and equity. These individuals include young climate activists, university and school students, local organizers, indigenous and ethnic youth, rural climate-vulnerable youth, and members of civil society organizations across Bangladesh.

The organization’s External Support Program alone has directly supported more than 50 youth-led and youth-serving organizations through tailored coaching, technical assistance, and access to policy-making platforms. Each of these organizations represents its own network of young constituents, multiplying the reach of Porag’s impact across districts and communities.

Moreover, through nationwide consultations, digital campaigns, and national media coverage, Porag’s work has reached tens of thousands more indirectly—educating the public on the importance of inclusive climate action and demonstrating how youth can hold institutional power.

How were they supported?

The support offered through Youth4NDCs under Porag’s leadership is multi-layered, strategic, and rooted in long-term empowerment. Young people and organizations were supported through:

• Capacity-building workshops and policy labs that trained youth on climate negotiations, NDC structures, and policy advocacy;
• One-on-one technical assistance for grassroots organizations needing help with research, proposal writing, and campaign development;
• Access to national and international policy platforms, including opportunities to speak in front of government representatives, submit policy recommendations, and attend UN climate conferences;
• Knowledge products, including the NDC (YOU)TH Review, toolkits, infographics, and explainer documents that demystify complex policy processes;
• Advocacy mentorship, pairing young activists with experienced policy mentors to guide their involvement in climate justice movements.
  

This approach ensured that youth were not merely consulted, but truly equipped and empowered to lead—creating a new generation of climate policy leaders in Bangladesh.

How much money did you raise?

Under Amanullah Porag’s leadership, Youth4NDCs has raised and mobilized over  USD in direct funding, alongside substantial in-kind and institutional support from partners such as UNICEF Bangladesh, Global GreenGrants Fund, EARTHDAY.ORG and development agencies, and civil society alliances.

These funds have supported a wide range of initiatives, including:

• Nationwide consultations and stakeholder dialogues across different regions of Bangladesh;
• The production and launch of the NDC (YOU)TH Review;
• Capacity-building trainings for youth and community organizations;
• Grants for exceptional youth and youth-led ideas
• Media and communications campaigns to raise awareness around youth engagement in NDC processes;
• The "Year of People's NDC" campaign, launched in partnership with 12 other organizations.
  

What does this mean for the people you work with?

For the youth and communities who have worked with Amanullah Porag and Youth4NDCs, this work has been nothing short of transformative. It has democratized access to climate policy, turning an opaque and elite-driven space into one where young people can see themselves as legitimate and capable contributors to national and international decision-making.

This work has provided a sense of ownership, recognition, and power to young people who have historically been excluded from the policymaking space—especially those from indigenous, coastal, and rural backgrounds. It means they are no longer passive recipients of climate decisions; they are now actively shaping the policies that affect their futures.

Beyond immediate empowerment, it has created pathways for professional and civic growth—many of the young people trained or supported by Youth4NDCs have gone on to lead their own initiatives, participate in government dialogues, or join international networks. The community Porag has nurtured now acts as a living movement: resilient, strategic, and united by the pursuit of climate justice.

Explain a case study.

Case Study: The NDC (YOU)TH Review

One of the most impactful examples of Porag’s leadership is the development of the NDC (YOU)TH Review in 2024. Recognizing the absence of youth voices in Bangladesh’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Porag mobilized over 1,200 young people and stakeholders through regional consultations, digital surveys, and policy labs to gather input on what an inclusive, youth-centered NDC should look like.

The result was a professionally produced, data-driven, and deeply human document that exposed critical policy gaps—such as the complete absence of references to children, youth, or intergenerational justice in the existing NDC. With support from UNICEF Bangladesh, the report was launched in a high-level forum attended by government ministries, international development agencies, and civil society leaders.

The NDC (YOU)TH Review has since become a national reference point for inclusive climate policymaking and is being used to shape conversations ahead of Bangladesh’s NDC 3.0 submission in 2025. More importantly, it has inspired similar youth-led reviews in other countries, demonstrating the potential of Porag’s model on a global scale.

Eve specialises in ethical and sustainable AI applications within computational oncology and has been leading global medical AI innovations by uniting hundreds of youths from more than 30 countries. Eve is also amongst the youngest globally to be recognised as part of the 2025 beVisioneers Mercedes-Benz Fellowship for her leadership in sustainable health technology. Her critical thinking skills and “extraordinary ability” have been “commended for high career potential” as noted by Dr. Tyler Cowen who recently awarded her as one of the youngest grantees of Emergent Ventures from George Mason University.

She founded Immunova, an open-source youth-led AI model to improve immunotherapy outcomes through treatment modelling and multimodal analysis. With over 150 youth collaborators across more than 30 countries, Eve has grown a global community and established institutional partnerships with Harvard, Yale, University of Bergen and Columbia. Moreover, she has raised more than USD$10,000 in grant funding for Immunova after launching a highly successful 1.0 prototype model. Currently, her core team is working on launching their 2.0 model to begin beta testing and implementation in hospitals and clinics around the world.

Other than Immunova, my project, Neuroflux, has also been accepted for publication with the International Journal of High School Research on a USD$250 scholarship and will be part of the upcoming June issue. Since September 2024, I have been leading a 4-person team from 3 countries to develop an interpretable multimodal U-Net deep learning model for brain tumour segmentation. I was also selected to present Neuroflux at Harvard OpenBio’s undergraduate Revolutionising Life: Frontiers of Biotechnology Conference to more than 200 attendees. I have also separately represented Singapore on a regional and global scale through my international research presentations and various competitions to present her technological innovations. Some of my recent accolades include the Best Innovation Award in 2024 Prudential Young Trailblazers and being the youngest finalist to eventually secure 2nd place in the 2024 Regional Young Entrepreneurs Case Challenge. These awards and competitions have taken me abroad fully-funded and recognised my talents in social innovation, where she has led my schoolmates to develop an health tracking bracelet for youths, an AI platform for medical tourism in Asia-Pacific and a personalised medical insurance app.

UNICEF finds only 5% of young people who enter multilateral climate policy spaces feel confident in raising their voices and only 50% of youth who have heard of climate change know how to address it. I was one of those statistics. Growing up around climate deniers and being told women should ‘stay out of politics,’ my commitment to environmental action clashed with skepticism around me. For years, I struggled to see a path forward. It wasn't until I attended COP25 as a student representative where my worldview changed. I couldn’t believe there was a space where young people could not only do something about climate change, but work collectively together to create the future that we deserve. At COP25, I was also introduced to Care About Climate, and now, as its leader, I do the same for others as the international youth community did for me: I break barriers for women and young people to shape climate policy. In my short  few years as a climate advocate, I've learned that having access to a climate policy spaces is useless if we don't have the skills to navigate it. That's why I created the International Climate Policy and Advocacy course, available in seven languages, that includes 40 videos on how young people can engage in climate negotiation, reaching 1500 youth in  three years and an additional 4,000 through related workshops. If our data doesn't include all of us, then solutions will continue to ignore those most vulnerable. That's why I also supported the creation of the NDC Equity Tracker, which as trained nearly 200 young feminists to analyze and create over 400 unique recommendations delivered to 80 governments on improving gender, ambition, and intergenerational justice in their climate plans. Findings from NDC Equity Tracker have contributed to multiple in country NDC consultations and the development of a Youth in NDCs Clause being adopted in country’s NDCs right now! Both of these projects were recognized by countries in the adoption of best practices in the 2023 and 2024 Action for Climate Empowerment Reports adopted at COP29. Further, my advocacy led to the adoption of numerous updated policies on youth inclusion, climate ambition, and gender justice across the UNFCCC system, including the establishment of the annual Youth Forums and Youth Climate Champion role. Beyond the impact of my projects, I have fundraised $200,000 to support and empower over 100 volunteers and 125 delegates to climate negotiations, uplifting primarily women and non-binary people, in engaging with the work at Care About Climate and beyond. Additionally, recognizing that climate action starts at home, I also spearheaded the launch of the Local Conference of Youth USA, which has brought together 450 youth across three years to develop National Youth Climate Policy Statements delivered to the White House, State Department, and Congress. I shared my connections with the federal government with the US-youth community, organizing over 20 meetings with young leaders to push their policy priorities and share their stories, and including their first ever round of consultations for the US NDC that included young people. Though the US NDC failed to adopt youth components, it did include a number of gender-based recommendations from the analysis of the NDC Equity Tracker! Being an advocate is only part of my life! In my full time job as a Climate Adaptation Specialist, I created intergenerational and gamified climate adaptation workshops to inform the development of Honolulu's Climate Adaptation Strategy, faciltiated a heat-ready state-wide coalition, and brought in a million dollars to launch a community climate champions program. As my country enters a period of turmoil, I am reminded of where I came from and the fact their turmoil has always existed in my country. I am taking my advocacy to the next level, working with young leaders and advocates to support our democracy and provide updates on actions/resources for others to do so too.

To the Selection Committee,

I am writing to nominate Sara Gabrielli for the Future Minds Network’s 25 Under 25. When I learned of this opportunity from a peer who made last year’s list, Sara was the first person who came to mind — not because she seeks recognition, but precisely because she doesn’t. And yet, she truly deserves it.

I met Sara in 2022 when we were both appointed by our respective parliaments to represent our countries at the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and its high-level Youth Parliament for French-Speaking Countries in Tirana, Albania. During the ten days we spent there, I served as President of the Political Commission, and Sara served as President of the Voting Bureau. Our roles required close collaboration, and it was in this setting that I came to truly appreciate her diligence, focus and intellect.

While many young representatives were eager to use this international platform to build their careers and personal reputations, Sara stood out for her quiet determination and authenticity. Reserved at first, she chose to speak only when she had something meaningful to say — and when she did, she spoke with power and purpose. I still remember her presentation on abolishing the death penalty in Francophone countries — eloquent, well-researched and deeply passionate. Afterward, when I asked her why she didn’t speak up more often, she said something that stuck with me: “It’s better to speak less but say more, than to speak often and say nothing at all.”

Sara’s quiet leadership extends far beyond diplomacy. She is currently the Secretary General of the NGO Bonnievale Projects and the Vice President of Aidong-Tous Solidarité, organisations that operate across Africa and Europe. In Europe, she focuses on educating people on how to responsibly support developing countries, raising awareness to global inequalities and promoting sustainable solidarity. In Africa, her work is hands-on: she is actively involved in providing financial, material and emotional support to over 300 young people from disadvantaged communities — ensuring access to education, food and dignity. She also serves as a Young Ambassador for Luxembourg to the European Union and ASEF, as well as being Chief of Justice of Luxembourg for the World Prosperity Organisation, roles that underscores her commitment to youth diplomacy and cross-border collaboration.

Since 2023, she has helped raise over €10,000 in funding and in-kind contributions, ensuring the continuity of these programs despite growing economic challenges. One case that stands out is her intervention in a rural Western Cape township, where she worked one-on-one with two children, aged 8 and 9, who had never attended school. One of the children had been diagnosed with HIV, and Sara handled the situation with remarkable empathy, discretion and leadership.

Recognising the broader systemic issues at play, she didn’t stop there — after discovering that many of the young mothers in the area were suffering from untreated sexually transmitted diseases and had little access to reproductive education, Sara took the initiative to organise community-led, culturally sensitive seminars focused on taboo-crossing sexual health care and awareness for 50 young women and girls. Her proactive and respectful approach not only empowered the community with knowledge but also reduced stigma and created safe spaces for dialogue.

The two children she originally supported were eventually reintegrated into the state school system — a milestone that symbolised more than just educational access, but inclusion, hope and the breaking of a generational cycle of neglect.

Sara doesn’t just lead initiatives — she becomes a deeply rooted part of the lives of the families she supports. Whether she’s helping children stay in school, bringing supplies to households, or simply being emotionally present, Sara is there. She also collaborates with Caritas to provide educational support for countless refugee families in Europe, and has become a key pillar in the lives of the people she serves. Many of them rely on her not just for help, but for hope.

Sara is currently working on a new project to support orphanages in Togo — bringing together local and international partners to address urgent needs in shelter, education and basic care. As with all her initiatives, Sara is approaching this work with humility, cultural sensitivity and an unwavering belief in the power of grassroots engagement.

Over the past four years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Sara on various advocacy initiatives. I’ve seen firsthand her relentless commitment to justice, her quiet leadership and her unwavering efforts to bring visibility to small state nations like Luxembourg on the international stage — a mission that resonates deeply with me as someone from the island of Mauritius.

What continues to amaze me is how fluently and intentionally Sara uses language to connect across cultures and causes. She is fluent in six languages, a rare and powerful tool in international advocacy, and one she uses with humility and grace.

Sara never seeks the spotlight. She works tirelessly behind the scenes, and too often, others receive credit for what she’s done. And while she may not seek recognition, I believe it’s time she receives it — not for herself, but because her work, her values and her example deserve to be seen, honoured and celebrated.

For these reasons and many more, I wholeheartedly recommend Sara for the Future Minds Network’s 25 Under 25. Recognising Sara isn’t just about honouring one individual—it’s about uplifting the values of integrity, action and quiet leadership that she represents. The world needs more leaders like Sara. I urge you to give her this well-deserved recognition.

Sincerely,

Nabil Khodabaccus

Olaniyi is the founder of TechGyant, a tech media platform dedicated to amplifying the voices of Africa tech and entrepreneur ecosystem players. In just one year, TechGyant has emerged as a powerful platform amplifying African tech innovation on a global scale. Olaniyi has demonstrated a unique blend of entrepreneurial vision, media rigor, and community impact that reflects the very essence of a Future Mind.

Since its launch in 2024, TechGyant has reached over 12,000 page views and 4,700+ unique visitors across 100+ countries globally. The core audience includes African startup founders, tech entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem stakeholders, especially concentrated in Rwanda, Nigeria, the U.S., Kenya, and the U.K. By curating and amplifying over 150 stories from across the continent, Olaniyi helped bring visibility to underreported startups and innovators, directly impacting their growth and access to networks.

TechGyant supported its audience through:

• Rich storytelling and analysis in innovation, startup success stories, and market trends.
• Exposure to a global readership, opening doors for investment, partnerships, and international recognition.
• Community-centered content accessible via newsletters, LinkedIn, and web publishing, with a 30% open rate and a 5% click-through rate, demonstrating engaged and loyal readership.
  

Eight months after launch, TechGyant secured a support grant as a recipient of the ALU Center for Entrepreneurship Accelerator Fund, winning a grant of $3000, a competitive initiative backing top-tier African ventures. Additionally, the team’s Top 3 win at the AllAfrica Global Media Newsrooms Innovation Challenge in Kenya brought both funding and increased visibility, highlighting their innovative model.

For the founders and startups TechGyant features, this visibility translates into tangible value: increased investor interest, broader audience reach, and validation in a competitive ecosystem. For the team and contributing writers, it has fostered a culture of excellence and narrative ownership around African innovation.

A standout case was the coverage of Rwandan fintech startups during TechGyant's platform pilot. By spotlighting early-stage ventures during the Kigali launch, these startups received amplified media attention that led to invitations to pitch at international events. One founder, after being profiled, reported a doubling of demo requests and new investor outreach from Europe and Asia, proving the power of strategic storytelling.