Some children aren’t just amazing — they’re extraordinary. These young individuals, often referred to as “old souls,” seem to have had a mission from an early age: to make a positive impact on society. You might have heard of Greta Thunberg or Malala Yousafzai — two of the most well-known young activists who started their journeys early to make the world a better place. But there are plenty of other young activists across the globe with résumés just as spectacular.
JOSHUA WILLIAMS
It started with a $20 bill from his grandmother.
She gave it to Joshua Williams, then 4 years old, and told him to spend it however he wanted. Instead of buying toys or candy, as most kids his age might, he decided to give it to a homeless man he noticed on the side of the road in Miami Beach. That small act of kindness ignited a passion in Williams to fight global hunger and poverty.
And at 20, he’s still pursuing that passion today.
Williams is now a college student who also oversees his nonprofit, Joshua’s Heart Foundation, which has distributed more than 4.8 million pounds of food since its creation in 2005. He has made a significant impact in the world of philanthropy, earning numerous honors, including the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017, presented by then-President Donald Trump.
Williams’ pantry in Miami Beach is staffed by volunteers of all ages, with no age restrictions for those eager to support his nonprofit. He understands better than anyone that even a 4-year-old can make a difference.
CATARINA LORENZO
This 17-year-old competitive surfer spent her childhood swimming and playing in the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean near her home in Brazil.
So when she heard that raw sewage was flowing into the ocean during rainstorms, Catarina wanted to do what she could to protect her waters. During this journey, she learned about the dangers of climate change.
At 13, Catarina became a climate activist and in 2019 she joined the Children vs. Climate Crisis petition. Along with other teens from around the world, she went to the United Nations to voice her frustrations.
Since then, her love for the water and the environment has driven her to become involved in global organizations, including the High Seas Alliance, where she serves as a youth ambassador.
“World leaders should hear us. If they don’t act to stop the climate crisis, it is our future that will be affected,” Catarina said reflecting on her role in the Children vs. Climate Crisis petition.
RYAN HICKMAN
When this 15-year-old has free time, instead of playing games or binge-watching shows, Ryan Hickman sorts through and bags hundreds of empty cans and bottles.
Ryan, of Orange County, Calif., has been visiting his local recycling center since he was 3, when he and his dad would collect recyclables and take them to the local center to earn a few bucks. Young Ryan realized that if he continued to collect cans and bottles, he’d be able to not only help the community, but also make more money. Soon after that day, Ryan asked his parents to help him collect more cans and bottles, and he’s been collecting ever since.
In 2012, with the help of his parents, Ryan started his own recycling business called Ryan’s Recycling Company. Since then, he has recycled almost 2 million items. He’s been featured on national news channels and in magazines and was nominated as one of the top finalists for Time magazine’s Kid of the Year award in 2020. A year later, he founded the nonprofit Project3R, which focuses on clearing trash from community areas and educating others about the importance of recycling.
Ryan’s ultimate goal is to prevent as many recyclables as possible from reaching the ocean. Though he’s only one person, this kid has learned that even the smallest actions can lead to big changes.
ROBBY NOVAK
When he was 9 years old, Robby Novak earned the nickname “Kid President” after his inspirational talks on YouTube went viral.
Wearing a kid-sized suit with a red tie, he attracted more than 75 million people to his channel, eager to see him encourage the world to spread kindness. Perhaps he was even more endearing to fans because they learned that Novak has osteogenesis imperfecta, a brittle bone disease that at that time caused him to suffer more than 70 bone breaks since birth.
Novak’s popularity soared, leading him to interview President Barack Obama, kiss superstar Beyoncé on the cheek and even hang out at the White House. Before entering high school, he had co-authored a New York Times bestselling book, “Robby Novak: Kid President and Promotor of Positivity.”
Novak eventually stepped away from the spotlight but made his return in 2019 with a YouTube series titled “Are We There Yet?” The six-part series followed Novak and his brother-in-law Brad Montague on a cross-country adventure, meeting children facing challenges yet maintaining a positive outlook on life — much like Novak did when he was a kid.
Today, the 20-year-old lives in Tennessee, where he studies physical therapy and posts positive TikTok videos every so often.
Though Novak has been busy in college, he was recently featured on NBC’s “Today” which pointed out that Kid President is finally old enough to vote in a presidential election.
“Me and my friends, we love to talk politics,” he said on the morning show. “But one rule we have is that you have to be open to hearing every perspective.”
ELLA TRYON
Sometimes it’s easy to take little things for granted, like coloring with crayons.
Six years ago, Ella Tryon was in a children’s hospital undergoing treatment for digestive issues. During her stay, she wanted to color. Her simple request was denied. She learned that pediatric patients could not share crayons due to germs and there were not enough boxes of crayons for each patient.
That made an impression on Ella. Once she was better, she decided to start collecting boxes of crayons from her home in Montville Township, Ohio.
Ella, now nicknamed the “Crayon Girl,” founded a nonprofit called Help Me Color the Rainbow. The organization holds a golf tournament every year to raise money to purchase crayons for sick children.
Thanks to the efforts of Ella, now 14, more than 49,000 boxes of crayons have been donated to hospitals around the country.
LILLY PLATT
If it weren’t for a leisurely walk, Lilly Platt might have a very different life right now.
During a short stroll with her grandfather in 2015, Lilly counted 91 pieces of trash — empty bottles or cans — in just 15 minutes. Her grandfather told her that much of the debris would unfortunately make its way into the ocean.
The then-7-year-old was shocked that the plastics would end up in the water and ultimately harm marine life. The thought upset Lilly so much that she dedicated herself to eliminating plastic pollution.
Since then, the British-born Dutch environmentalist has created Lilly’s Plastic Pickup, a nonprofit responsible for collecting more than 100,000 pieces of plastic. The 16-year-old holds many titles as a youth ambassador for various organizations, and she even added a TED Talk to her résumé.
Lilly’s advice to children who want to make a difference?
“Speak up and know you will be heard,” she says. “You are important, you are needed and together we can save the world.”