9 Inspiring Young Leaders to Follow in 2026
Every generation has its torchbearers—those who see a challenge not as a barrier, but as a call to action. They remind us that you don’t need a title to lead; you need a vision and the will to begin. This blog post will introduce you to 9 inspiring young leaders, activists, and changemakers that everyone should be watching in 2026.
Xiye Bastida
Xiye Bastida (23) is a young Indigenous climate-justice activist from Mexico who co-founded the global youth-led organization Re-Earth Initiative. After witnessing flooding in her hometown, she moved to New York, and there, as a teen, she helped organize massive climate strikes that brought hundreds of thousands into the streets. Her activism has taken her to world stages, from UN summits to high-level climate forums, where she champions Indigenous wisdom and frontline community voices. Today, she’s shaping the future of climate justice by calling for equity, action, and global solidarity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXGTNROtJkY
Wawa Gatheru
Wawa Gatheru (26) is a Kenyan-American Gen Z climate justice leader and the founder of Black Girl Environmentalist (BGE), a movement creating space for Black girls, women, and gender-expansive people in the environmental world. Wawa uses her voice to dismantle old environmental narratives and spotlight justice, equity, and inclusion, showing that climate activism belongs to everyone. Through BGE and her advocacy, she’s pushing the climate movement forward, making it more inclusive, more just, and more powerful.
Marta Bernardino
Marta Bernardino (19) is a young Portuguese inventor and ecosystem restorer. Growing up, she watched forests near her home fall to wildfires. Driven by that loss, she taught herself robotics from the age of nine, often using recycled parts, with one mission in mind: help nature heal. She co-founded Trovador alongside Sebastião Mendonça, developing autonomous robots that plant trees and restore forests in areas too dangerous or remote for humans. They were finalists in this year’s Moonshot Pirates Shape the Future Climate Challenge 2025, showcasing their innovation and impact.
https://youtu.be/YhLPFCMtg20?si=b1Uml382aAzdkNPz
Marta also creates technology to protect marine life, from robots that tackle plastic pollution to systems that monitor seaweed growth and water quality, using innovation to defend ecosystems. Her work shows that when curiosity, skill, and purpose come together, even one young inventor can make a real difference for the planet.
Sebastião Mendonça
Sebastião Mendonça (19) is a young environmental innovator transforming how we restore the Earth. Besides co-founding Trovador with Marta, Sebastião also developed a satellite-guided tool that maps post-fire zones, helping landowners and conservation teams target reforestation where it matters most, making every tree, seed, and euro count. Beyond tech, he is a community builder leading outreach in Lisbon—from robotics workshops to tree-planting events—giving youth from underserved backgrounds the chance to dream big.
Tariq Lawal
Meet Tariq Lawal (19), a creative rebel from Lagos, Nigeria, blending art, activism, and bold action to challenge injustice and protect the planet. At 17, Tariq stepped out from behind his notebook and into the streets of Lagos Island to spark awareness about climate, wildlife, and social justice, a demonstration recognized by UNICEF Nigeria during COP28. He’s built platforms like the Lagos Island Literacy Project and Lets Conserve to teach civic and environmental awareness and to push for systemic change from the ground up.
Amika Sara George
Meet Amika Sara George (26), an advocate for menstrual equity and education justice in the UK. At 17, she launched the #FreePeriods campaign after discovering that many students missed school because they couldn’t afford sanitary products. Her petition to the government gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures, leading schools across England to commit to providing free period products. Her story shows that access to basic dignity is a human right, and demonstrates what’s possible when young people step up and speak out.
Adrian Davies
Adrian Davies (20) is a young innovator blending law, tech, and purpose. As a law student, founder, advisor, and speaker, he builds bold solutions for today’s toughest challenges. In high school, he first heard about Moonshot Pirates but initially chose not to join. When our founder, Marko reached out personally, everything changed. “It wasn’t just an organization. It felt like a place where people genuinely cared,” Adrian recalled. That moment opened doors to mentors who believed in him, his first startup which became a valuable learning experience. Along the way, he built lasting friendships and support networks that still shape him today.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urA3\_1WolCA
Adrian is now the founder of Meshara, creating the world’s first scalable mesh-network to connect the 2.6 billion people still offline without traditional telecoms. He introduced his “SPONGE framework” at TEDxKlagenfurt, a blueprint for turning inspiration into action and breaking barriers for young innovators. Adrian’s story shows that when ambition, skill, and heart align, real change becomes possible.
Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown (21) is British actress and activist. She was named the youngest-ever UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2018, a title she has used not just for visibility but for real, on-the-ground impact. She has raised awareness around children’s rights, access to education, and the harms of bullying, championing safe spaces and equal opportunity for youth worldwide. Recently, Millie visited a school in São Paulo, Brazil, meeting adolescent girls to hear their stories and support efforts to keep them in school, engaging directly with community realities.
Sumak Helena Gualinga
Sumak Helena Gualinga (23) is an Indigenous climate‑justice advocate from the Ecuadorian Amazon. Raised in a family of land protectors, she witnessed the threats her community faced from extractive industries. Today, she uses her voice to expose how fossil-fuel extraction destroys land, culture, and lives. Helena co-founded Polluters Out, a youth-led movement demanding that fossil fuel corporations be kept out of climate policy. She lifts up Indigenous perspectives, including “Kawsak Sacha” (the Living Forest), showing that protecting the Earth is vital for survival.
Your 2026: From Inspired to Inspiring
That feeling you have right now, that spark of possibility as you read these stories? That’s the fuel. Let’s turn that fuel into forward motion.
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Start by finding your spark: Let your curiosity lead the way. Dive deeper into the work of one leader here who captivated you. That initial click is your clue, pointing you toward the cause that feels less like work and more like purpose.
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Then, channel that energy into a skill: Whether it’s writing, organizing, or public speaking, dedicating just a little time each week transforms you from a supporter on the sidelines to a vital player in the game.
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As you begin doing, you naturally start leading: Your first act of leadership doesn’t need a fancy title, it just needs your initiative. Be the person who rallies a few friends for a clean-up, or who starts the conversation in your community. Owning a small project builds the real-world confidence that paves the way for even bigger impact.
True changemaking is multiplicative. Share what inspires you, mentor someone with less experience, and be the voice that tells others, “You can do this, too.” The world in 2026 won’t be changed by a single person trying to do everything, but by millions of us daring to do something.
Back the Youth Building the Future
Are you ready to support young changemakers who are already driving real change on the ground? This is your moment.
Join our supporter crew backing the missions of Pirates who are transforming their communities. Step into a legacy of real impact by fueling the innovators shaping tomorrow.
