Teen Climate Leader Ignites Conversations on Environmental Awareness

The Climate Leaders Fellowship program teaches students about climate change and environmental sustainability, and guides them in designing and launching a volunteer project in their own communities.

The online program is offered in a collaboration between the Stanford University Deliberative Democracy Lab and the Rustic Pathways Foundation.

Victoria Rainey
Age 14
Manassas, Virginia

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Victoria Rainey and I am a high school Freshman. I currently live in Manassas, Virginia, and am 14 years old. I am involved in the marching band and my school’s crew team, as well as various clubs like SCA freshman class secretary and Model United Nations.

What was your project and its goals?

The goal of my project was to promote climate change and encourage people to reduce their carbon footprint. My project brings to light the horrors of how much waste is sent to landfills, and ways to reduce your trash, footprint, contribution to gas emission, and recycle more.

The problem I was addressing in my community was awareness. A lot of people want to know about climate change and how they can change their actions to help. I created a social media platform that gave interesting and easy ways that students could reduce their carbon footprint.

What were the results of your project?

In the end I reached about 200 people both students and adults in and out of my community. I saw a lot of interest in friends and family to learn more about climate change. They were interested in my work and wanted to know more.

How did participating in the Climate Leaders Fellowship make you feel?

Participating in this fellowship gave me an outlet to help others. It was a chance to help make a change and in doing so, encourage others to make a change as well. It helped me find a voice and create a presence and be in all sense of the world, a Climate Leader.

What would you tell a friend about the Climate Leaders Fellowship?

The Climate Leaders Fellowship is a great way for students to become even more involved in their communities. It opens up an opportunity for students like myself to educate other students and members of the community about climate change. You get to experience a community of like-minded students and facilitators from all around the world all with a common goal, to do our part to save our planet.