As the calendar turns toward Children’s Day 2025, the spotlight shines brightly on a remarkable young woman who has become synonymous with youth leadership in environmental stewardship: Manya Harsha. At just 15 years old, this Bengaluru-based Young EcoHero is leading a monumental charge for a sustainable future. Through her impactful organization, “SUNSHINE Children for Change,” Manya Harsha embodies the tireless spirit of a true Climate Warrior. Her dedication proves that generational change starts with conviction and action.
We sat down with Manya Harsha to discuss her incredible journey, the triumphs of her environmental campaigns, and her vision for mobilizing youth across the globe, especially as we look forward to celebrating Children’s Day with a renewed focus on planetary health.
The Genesis of a Young EcoHero
Q: Manya Harsha, thank you for speaking with us. You started your journey as a green crusader at a very young age. Can you tell us about the spark that ignited your passion to become a Young EcoHero?
Manya Harsha: It’s my pleasure to share my story. The inspiration is deeply personal. I was only four years old when I was first exposed to the harsh reality of climate change. I witnessed nature’s inherent beauty being jeopardized by human driven devastation, and that really stayed with me. My love for nature blossomed, and I recognized the need to protect our fragile ecosystem. I was also profoundly inspired by my grandmother, V Rudramma, and her stories which taught me environmental values.
My formal activism began at the age of eight, setting me on this green path. The words of Swami Vivekananda, “Arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached,” became my guiding principle. I realized I did not want to simply witness the destruction of Mother Earth. She is our Mother, and it is Our duty as her children to stand up for Mother Nature. That is why I started my mission to channelize YOUTH POWER FOR CLIMATE ACTION, ultimately becoming a Young EcoHero in my own right.
Sunshine Children for Change: Mobilizing the Climate Warrior Force
Q: Your campaign, “SUNSHINE Children for Change,” has achieved staggering numbers. As the founder of this movement, how do you sustain this level of impact, and what are the updated campaign totals?
Manya Harsha: Sustaining the impact requires consistent action and the belief that every individual has the potential hidden in him or her to ACCELERATE CHANGE. The goal of “SUNSHINE Children for Change” is to awaken that sustainable consciousness. I believe today’s children are tomorrow’s citizens, so we target the youth directly.
We focus on tangible, on-ground work. To date, our campaign has distributed over twenty thousand saplings, which is a huge step toward reforestation. We have also addressed the pervasive issue of plastic pollution by distributing twenty five thousand plus sustainable bags to communities. I am personally dedicated to these efforts, having planted fifteen thousand six hundred saplings, and dispersed over ten thousand seed bombs during my travels. Beyond planting, we regularly organize numerous cleanups in various water bodies, forests, highways, and city roads to transform littered spaces into pristine landscapes. All these efforts define the role of a true Climate Warrior.
Education, Outreach, and Looking to Children’s Day 2025
Q: Education is clearly a vital part of your strategy. Tell us about the Sunshine Fortnightly Environment Magazine and how you use key dates like Children’s Day to amplify your message.
Manya Harsha: Education is the key to lasting change. As the Founder and Chief Editor of the Sunshine Fortnightly Environment Magazine, I use this platform to spread environmental awareness. We have distributed over two thousand copies of the magazine amongst children, Montessori schools, various government schools, and public libraries. I am humbled to say this has truly Ignited a CHANGE amongst millions of YOUTH through the magazine. We also organise a number of competitions through Sunshine to encourage youth on the path of environmentalism.
My outreach extends far beyond the magazine. I conduct seminars, workshops, and guest talks for students ranging from toddlers to graduate classes across government and private schools in Bengaluru. These sessions cover essential topics like water conservation, climate change awareness, and sustainable living practices. Every year, I ensure we conduct sapplings give away to the public during Independence Day and, most importantly, on Children’s Day. These annual distributions ensure our message of sustainability reaches thousands of families directly. The work we do now is all focused on building momentum for an even bigger impact on Children’s Day 2025. This significant day is when we empower the youth to embrace their vital responsibility toward Earth.
Green Innovation and the Grandma’s Green Weave Campaign
Q: Your projects blend traditional wisdom with modern innovation, particularly with the Grandma’s Green Weave Campaign and your upcycling projects. How did these unique ideas come about?
Manya Harsha: Innovation is essential for a Climate Warrior. We cannot solve new problems with old methods. My green innovations, such as creating DIY VEGETABLE PAPER from kitchen waste and festival waste paper, are about proving that waste is simply a resource out of place. Similarly, I upcycle brown wrappers used in food packaging into DIY PAPER PENCILS and SEED PAPER PENs, promoting zero waste solutions in everyday items.
The Grandma’s Green Weave Campaign, subtitled ‘A Saree to Sustain’, is a very special project, a tribute to my late grandmother, V Rudramma. Its core mission is to eradicate the use of single use plastic by converting old textiles into reusable sustainable bags. Through this campaign, we have successfully upcycled one thousand four hundred sarees and three hundred bedspreads into an astonishing nineteen thousand sustainable saree bags. We regularly distribute these eco friendly bags amongst the local street vendors of Bengaluru, fostering community involvement and environmental mindfulness. This project connects our cultural heritage directly to modern sustainability, making it an effective Young EcoHero initiative.
Global Recognition: Awards and Influence of the Climate Warrior
Q: Your efforts have garnered both national and international acclaim, confirming your status as a global Young EcoHero. Which awards highlight the scope of your work the most?
Manya Harsha: I am incredibly honored by the recognition, which I view as validation for the youth-led climate movement. The 2023 International Young Eco-Hero Award from Action For Nature was a major highlight, demonstrating the global reach of our work. Nationally, I was honored to receive the WATER HERO 2020 Award from the Jal Ministry of India, acknowledging my six years of educating children on water conservation, a project that was also recognized and featured on the social media pages of UN Water.
Other major recognitions include the 2023 Greenwood The Voice of Change award from We Naturalists and the EDN Rising Star Award from Earth Day Network India. My passion for writing, which I use to spread environmental values, also earned me titles like the Youngest Poet of India 2018 and Youngest Author in Kannada 2019 by India Book of Records, and the GRANDMASTER title by Asia Book of Records. These accolades reinforce that every role I play, from author to innovator, contributes to the mission of a Climate Warrior. The momentum from these achievements will power our efforts well into Children’s Day 2025.
The Call to Action for Children’s Day 2025
Q: As we prepare for Children’s Day 2025, what is your key message for the youth, and what actions can families take right now?
Manya Harsha: My message is powerful and direct, rooted in my belief that the Earth is not for sale. I tell the youth, “Don’t wait for a Super Hero to lead the march of Climate Activism, Instead be one.” Children are the future, and together, hand in hand, we must work to combat climate change.
For families, the most important step is integration. Our Diwali initiative, “Along with a Flower Pot, Plant a Flower Pot,” is a perfect example. We encouraged people to plant a real flower pot alongside every firecracker burst. I distributed saplings—either one thousand or three thousand, depending on the phase of the campaign—to encourage this idea of adding greenery to celebrations. Sustainable practices must be integrated into daily life.
As we look toward Children’s Day 2025, my call to action is for every child to embrace their role as a Young EcoHero. Let’s paint the world Green and Blue with sustainable practices. We and We will Be the Change. I will continue to raise my voice for my Mother Earth, and I encourage everyone to join the movement, starting today.
Conclusion: The Legacy of Manya Harsha
The dedication of Manya Harsha serves as a vital blueprint for youth-led environmental change. This Climate Warrior has not only inspired millions through the Sunshine Fortnightly Environment Magazine but has also created substantial on-the-ground impact through the distribution of twenty thousand saplings and the creation of nineteen thousand sustainable bags. Her work, spanning from childhood inspiration to global recognition with the International Young Eco Hero Award, firmly establishes her as an exemplary Young EcoHero. Her focus on Children’s Day 2025 ensures that the conversation about climate action remains firmly in the hands of the next generation. We thank Manya Harsha for her time and for reminding us all that we must arise, awake, and stop not until the goal is reached.
