Campus Times | Lucknow 

In a remarkable achievement that has placed young Indian innovation on the global stage, Aaliya Fatima Rizavi, a Class 9 student of La Martiniere Girls’ College, Lucknow, has been selected among the winners of the prestigious Slingshot Challenge — an international environmental initiative launched by National Geographic in partnership with The Walt Disney Company.

Introduced in 2022, the challenge encourages young people between the ages of 13 and 18 to develop practical and creative solutions to pressing environmental issues. This year, the competition received more than 2,300 submissions from over 5,000 participants across 100 countries, making Aaliya’s achievement a significant global accomplishment.

Turning waste into stories

Aaliya impressed the jury with an innovative idea rooted in sustainability, creativity, and community engagement. Her project proposed organising puppet-making workshops across northern India using discarded fabrics, scraps, and other waste materials.

The initiative aims to promote upcycling while educating children and communities about waste reduction through storytelling and art.

What made her concept stand out was its unique blend of environmental awareness and cultural expression. By transforming scrap materials into puppets and narratives, the project demonstrates how creativity can become a powerful tool for sustainable change.

Global recognition for a young changemaker

As part of her achievement, Aaliya has received a prize of $1,000 and will travel to Washington, D.C. in October, where she will be felicitated alongside other young changemakers from around the world.

Her accomplishment reflects the growing impact of youth-led environmental initiatives and highlights how young innovators are contributing meaningful ideas to address global environmental challenges.

Inspiring young minds beyond the classroom

The Slingshot Challenge focuses on nurturing curiosity, critical thinking, and an “Explorer Mindset” among young participants. Through her project, Aaliya has emerged as an inspiring example of how local ideas can spark global conversations around sustainability and responsible living.

Her achievement has brought pride to La Martiniere Girls’ College and has already begun motivating fellow students to think creatively about solving environmental challenges within their own communities.

Aaliya Fatima Rizavi’s journey — from turning scraps into stories to earning global recognition — stands as a reminder that impactful change can begin with a simple idea, imagination, and the determination to make a difference.