Abby Van Helvoirt
2025 Youth Climate Activism Award - Essay Entry
Abby is a 12 year old from BC.
Abby (left) and her sister planting a tree.
My first introduction to environmental activism was with my local Girl Guides group. We would get to know nature through games and activities, learn about invasive species and help clean up ivy-infested areas. We also participated in Tree Appreciation Day events, planting trees each year in local parks!
For my last year with Girl Guides, I worked towards achieving the Lady Baden-Powell Award. This involved participating in a major community service project, as well as taking on several leadership roles within the Guides program.
For this, I organized a bottle drive and collected over $250 to donate to the Jane Goodall Institute of Canada. My efforts were recognized by the JGI and I was offered complimentary tickets to see Jane Goodall in person for her 90th birthday celebration tour in Vancouver! It was a phenomenal experience, and a dream come trueβshe is my idol!
Abby and her mom at the Jane Goodall Institute.
In October last year, I wanted to do something about reducing single-use cups in my community. I approached two local coffee shops about an idea: I wanted to provide punch cards and advertising to encourage customers to bring in their own reusable cups. When they filled up their punch cards, they could enter to win a prize. I asked local businesses to provide gift cards as prizes to support this contest.
After two months, we collected all of the completed punch cards and were surprised to see all the participation! We were able to give prizes to 9 winners, and each one was excited to say that the contest changed their habits about bringing in their own cups. I felt really good about making a little difference in my community.
My teacher, Ms. R, is very supportive of how much I have done for the community and the earth. I talked to her one day about how our school doesnβt have a recycling program and she encouraged me to bring blue bin recycling into my classroom. All the kids in my school throw their plastic containers into the garbage. But now in my classroom, all the kids throw their containers in the blue bins!
At my school, I am a member of the gardening club and leadership team. Our teacher ordered a new composting device, called the βLomiβ, by Pela. I made a video introducing and explaining the Lomi that was shown to my whole school.
Because of my knowledge about the Lomi, my teacher assigned me as the Lomi expert in my own classroom, basically making me in charge of explaining how it works and how itβs used. I am excited for even more opportunities in high school to continue to impact the environment.
As you can see, I have helped my community in many ways, and have learned how to form connections to make a difference for a better future for our planet.
β As an adult, I would really like to run for council so that I can be part of decision making for climate change.β
~Abby Van Helvoirt
As part of the submissions application we asked participants to answer these 3 questions in addition to their essay or video.
What future goals do you have around your environmental and climate work, and do you have any future projects in mind?
Within my school, I would like to continue improving the recycling program. I have started a blue bin program in my classroom, and hope to expand this to the whole school.
In my community, I want to form a group to help remove invasive species from forests and fresh/sea water areas. There are so many beautiful trees and ecosystems that need our help.
As an adult, I would really like to run for council so that I can be part of decision making for climate change. I am so happy to live where I do and I want to make sure I do something about helping the earth.
If you could share one message of hope for your community, what would it be? Briefly explain why you would choose this message.
"If we each do a little, we all do a lot."
I saw this on a poster a long time ago, cut it out, and taped it to my bathroom mirror as a daily reminder of how to make a difference. I know that I'm just a kid, but that doesn't mean that I can't do big things.
Who or what inspires you to work on climate change?
I have loved Jane Goodall ever since about Grade 2 or 3 when I learned about her work with saving animal habitats. I've read many of her books, learned about her life, and even got to see her in person for her 90th birthday celebration tour.
She inspires me because she is fearless and persistent. To go into the wild without knowing anyone, and to be alone all day with the chimps, seems so scary to me but she faced it every day, for years! To me, she is hope.