Mombasa's Shanariha Evans, founder of Young Warriors Club Kenya, wins the UK's P.E.A. Award for Youth Leadership in environmental conservation and ocean protection.
A young girl from Mombasa has just put Kenya on the global climate map — and she's only 13 years old.
Shanariha Evans, founder of Young Warriors Club Kenya, walked away with the Youth Award at the prestigious P.E.A. Awards held last night in London, United Kingdom. The win cements her place among the world's most influential young voices in environmental conservation.
What Are the P.E.A. Awards?
The P.E.A. Awards — short for People. Environment. Achievement. — are the United Kingdom's leading climate and sustainability awards, founded by Jarvis Smith. For 16 years, the awards have celebrated individuals and organizations driving real change in sustainability, ethical living, ecosystem restoration, and climate action. Past honorees include global icons like Sir David Attenborough.
This year's shortlist placed grassroots activists shoulder to shoulder with heavyweight names, including UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who was nominated in the Energy category. Shanariha herself was shortlisted in two categories — Climate Pioneer and Youth — a rare double recognition that speaks to the depth of her impact.
A Mombasa Girl Leading a Global Movement
Born in Mombasa County, Shanariha founded Young Warriors Club at just 12 years old, driven by a simple but powerful vision: protecting the planet starts with empowering young people to act now, not later.
Under her leadership, the youth-led organization has:
- Launched the "Plant a Million Mangroves" campaign, restoring over 50,000 mangroves in Tudor and Mtwapa creeks
- Partnered with 10 schools across the Coast region to deliver climate literacy to over 300 students
- Organized beach clean-up drives across Nyali and other Mombasa shorelines
- Championed ocean and marine resource conservation as part of global SDG 14 efforts
Her work proves that age is not a barrier to leadership — and that some of the most urgent environmental solutions are coming from the very generation set to inherit the consequences of climate change.
Why This Win Matters for Kenya
Shanariha's recognition on an international stage is more than a personal achievement — it's a spotlight on the growing power of youth-led environmental movements across Africa. It tells young Kenyans, especially those in coastal communities battling rising tides and degraded ecosystems, that their voices and actions carry weight far beyond their backyard.
As London Climate Action Week continues, Shanariha's win stands as a reminder: the fight for a sustainable future doesn't wait for adulthood. It starts wherever passion meets purpose — even in a 13-year-old from Mombasa.
