2022, Rena Kawasaki (17), Japan
Rena was eight years old when she read a book in which she learned that there were children who could not go to school because of the political situation in their country. Rena felt this was a situation that needed to be remedied. She began participating in various volunteer projects to help. Since then, Rena's motivation has been anger at the injustice children face. Rena soon noticed that she was looking abroad to make a difference for underprivileged youth. However, when she looked back at Japan, she realized that the youth in her own country needed help as well. Especially the education system that rejects individuality, and the government and companies, which often discriminate against youth and limit diversity in Japanese society in general. Therefore, Rena took it upon herself to introduce projects aimed at the injustice Japanese youth face in their daily lives.
Earth Guardians Japan
At the young age of 14, Rena started her organization Earth Guardians Japan, which she founded together with a friend. The motivation behind the start of the organization was to alleviate the devastating consequences of the education system in Japan and to remedy the youth’s lack of trust in the Japanese government. Rena and her team created a solution for this through a new system that enables children to be the change they want to see in the world. One of the most remarkable ways they achieved this was by carrying out a project that connected schools and local political representatives via Zoom. The project aimed to increase Japanese youth’s interest in political involvement.
Rena’s organization is also focused on helping the environment with projects such as holding a river cleanup on the local river in Juso, Osaka, Japan. Additionally, they plan programs for student entrepreneurs to present ideas to large companies in Japan. This is a great way to show students that their ideas can also have an impact.
Thanks to Rena’s work, her organization is the youngest youth organization to officially collaborate with the Japanese Ministry of Environment to incorporate the voice of youth into government activities.
Youngest Chief Future Officer
Rena is known for standing up for youth in Japan. This led to her being appointed as the youngest Chief Future Officer for a biofuel fighter jet company in Japan. Due to this achievement, the government of Tokyo approached her to advise their team on the reform of the Tokyo region. Through this project, Rena is working on the Tokyo Bay Project, which aims for urban development over 50 to 100 years. The goal of the project is to create a sustainable city that combines nature and convenience and is estimated to have an impact on the entire Tokyo area, home to 37 million people. Rena was also invited to participate in the TURETECH project, where she and her team developed a QR code system that would incorporate the voice of young people into decision-making. This idea was adopted by the Mayor of Niihama and will have implications for the entire population of the city.
Rena is paving the way for young people to participate in all layers and sectors of society in Japan. She has become a beacon of hope and a visible representative of youth in Japan, leading impactful projects. Rena wants to ensure not only that her generation receives better opportunities, but also that future generations receive them. Therefore, education and the environment are topics of the utmost importance to her, and which she wants to place high on the societal agenda.
My ultimate goal is not only to offer better opportunities to my generation but also to future generations
- RENA KAWASAKI, 2022 WINNER INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S PEACE PRIZE
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