The Sustainability Issue
Global Day of Action 2024
Celebrating the Top Youth Ambassadors
By QS ImpACT
The Global Day of Action (GDA) is an annual challenge by QS ImpACT that brings together young people from over 87 countries to make a difference that lasts. This year, we joined UNEP’s fight towards “Cracking Down on Plastic Pollution” as our theme of the Global Day of Action. The goal of this global, collective initiative was to make people more aware about the plastic crisis, cut down on plastic pollution, and recycle or upcycle plastic waste into useful materials. From August to November 2024, young leaders of the QS ImpACT community all over the world worked to tackle the plastic crisis in their local communities.
The Global Day of Action 2024 was a resounding success, with over 880+ volunteers mobilised, 6500+ kg of plastic waste cleaned up, and 3400+ people educated on plastic prevention & reduction around the world.
On 10th December 2024, we will come together at the QS ImpACT Awards 2024 to celebrate the unified impact we have made on our communities!
The QS ImpACT Local Councils and Youth Ambassadors led the change around the world, with 75 events put on in 13 countries: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, China, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Uganda.
Celebrating Our Youth Ambassadors
QS ImpACT Youth Ambassadors are young leaders who play a vital role in mobilising, engaging and leading their community through the Global Day of Action to make a positive impact on the environment.
This year, 20 Youth Ambassadors from 7 countries organised 43 impactful events, playing a crucial role in driving change. The top-performing ambassadors were selected based on the number of activities organised, people reached, plastic waste cleaned, volunteers engaged, and their impact reports.
Here are our Top 5 Youth Ambassadors:
Bornwell Willies Movella (Malawi)
Bornwell is a Statistics student at the University of Malawi, with a passion for data-driven insights. He led 4 events focused on plastic waste clean-ups and awareness campaigns. Mobilising 39 volunteers, he helped remove 220 kg of plastic waste and educated 1,277 individuals.
Christian Mpambira (Malawi)
Christian is a Computer Science student at the University of Malawi, holding two diplomas in ICT and leadership. Christian hosted 2 events, engaging 34 volunteers to clean up 15 kg of plastic and raising awareness among 360 people.
Grieves Nkunika (Malawi)
Grieves is a student at the University of Malawi studying textile engineering, with a passion for sustainable development and social responsibility. Grieves organised 2 impactful events, gathering 7 volunteers to remove 70 kg of waste and educate 106 people.
Pooja Chaudhary (India)
Pooja is a passionate advocate for sustainability, dedicated to driving meaningful change. She is also the co-founder of Green Guru Youth Foundation and a youth leader in India. Pooja hosted two awareness events that reached 555 individuals with insights on the plastic waste crisis and how to tackle it.
Theophilus Boadi (Ghana)
Theophilus is a Bachelor of Science student in Laboratory Technology at the University of Cape Coast. He has a passion for agriculture, greenhouse management, and beekeeping, and also serves as the Public Relations Officer for Molex Foundation Africa (UCC Chapter), where he mentors students and advocates for STEM education. Theophilus conducted 2 awareness sessions on the plastic crisis, engaging 3 volunteers to reach 473 individuals.
These Youth Ambassadors have proved that collective action can lead to significant change. From cleanups to educational campaigns, they have inspired their communities to envision and work toward a plastic-free future. Their stories serve as a beacon of hope, showing how local efforts can create a global ripple effect.
QS ImpACT is a UNEP accredited global charity registered in the UK and Whales. Our global community of young leaders grow and earn recognition for their positive impact on society. We connect universities, organizations and communities worldwide to develop young talent to lead through impact for a regenerative future. We recognize young people with Certificates, Badges, Scholarships and Awards. Last year, we impact over 112,000 people across 87 countries with over 2,100 community members and 50 Youth Ambassadors.
The culmination of the 2023 calendar year at QS ImpACT was marked by the prestigious QS ImpACT Awards, serving as our organization's flagship event. The overarching theme and mission of the awards were centred around the celebration of global regeneration.
It featured influential speeches and engaging discussions, showcasing the participation of distinguished leaders from the United Nations, Forbes 30 Under 30, and renowned global universities. A remarkable lineup of over 15 speakers and 16 judges contributed to the event's success, adding depth and value to the mission. The primary objective of the awards was to acknowledge and honour exceptional youth leaders spanning the globe, recognizing their remarkable contributions to community regeneration and transformation. After a rigorous evaluation, 45 finalists emerged from 18 different countries, with 8 emerging as winners.
Critical to the success of the event were the collaborative efforts with 15 impact partners, who played a pivotal role in supporting and enriching the journey towards creating a truly impactful and successful awards ceremony. The QS ImpACT Awards not only celebrated individual achievements but also fostered a collective spirit of regeneration.