AnnMary Vikatoria Raduva
AnnMary Vikatoria Raduva was inspired by her Rotuman Great Grandfather who knew the oceans, lagoons and reefs around Rotuma like no-one else. His knowledge and stories fuelled her passion to preserve the ocean and lands and to become active in this space.
Her ability to weave her stories has put her at centre stage as a youth climate activist internationally including the United Nations Climate Summit in New York in 2019.
She has also rallied people around her through founding The Youth Eco Champions Network in Fiji - a collective of youth under 18 who have planted more than 13,000 mangrove seedlings, significantly delivering against the governments 4 million trees in 4 years campaign.
Her work on the Say No to Balloon Releasing campaign put her in the firing line with many adults belittling her work - calling her the balloon girl or saying that someone of her age had no place in adult business. Her campaign was focused on reducing plastic waste, a huge problem in the islands. Of the way she was treated she said “I raise my head higher knowing that the message is clear and people are talking about balloons.”