Vital Voices Fellows on the Frontlines of Sustainability
Over half a century since its inception, April 22nd of this year marks the 53rd Earth Day and serves as a reminder of not only how far we have come, but also how much work there is left to do. This Earth Day, join Vital Voices in recognizing four women leaders, changemakers and pioneers in our network who are fighting to protect our planet through environmental and climate change initiatives. Continue reading to learn more about their bold, innovative, and equitable approaches to creating a more sustainable world for tomorrow!
Rocío González | Argentina
Through four separate co-founded initiatives, Rocío González is pioneering new and innovative ways to reduce harmful waste since 2009. Her journey started with Greca, a hobby-turned-project that produces fashion accessories using “silent trash” and other discarded manufacturing materials. Six years later, PAPAstudio was born. Focused on providing entrepreneurs in the design and apparel industries with guidance on sustainable practices, PAPAstudio allowed Rocío to start the Daravi project. Utilizing a triple-impact factory model, Daravi’s goal is to minimize industrial waste in the creation of simple, labor-intensive products, such as reusable bags and plant pots, created from upcycled materials. Their factories are committed to providing vulnerable women in their local communities with work opportunities.
In 2018, Rocío co-founded Unplatisfy, a company fighting plastic pollution around the world. Unplastify takes a multi-level approach to the reduction of disposable plastic use and waste to shift habits, operations and norms. Now leading the company as its Chief Technology Officer, González supports three of Uniplastify’s branches: 1) educating youth to instill smarter strategies such as the reduction of single-use-plastic in their own communities; 2) challenging corporate partners to measure their plastic footprint and adopt more sustainable practices; and 3) promoting policy at the municipal and national level to implement environmentally-conscious regulations. Rocío was a participant in the 2017 Fortune- U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentorship Partnership.
Alicia White | United States
Alicia White is a 2022 VV Visionaries Fellow and the founder of Project Petals. Based in New York, her environmental and community development organization works directly with low-income, under-served communities of color by fostering leadership and providing resources to create equitable change. Project Petals not only empowers these communities through educational and capacity-building initiatives, but serves as an advocate for climate change mitigation and sustainable environmental practices as well. For their effoerts, Project Petals has been recognized by the New York City Mayor’s Office.
Alicia’s advocacy work has since expanded from the local to the state level. Last fall as a part of the Vote Yes for Clean Water & Jobs Coalition, she helped pass The Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Bond Act in New York. “It’s crucial now more than ever that we move to address inequities within the climate crisis,” said White. 35-40% of the bill’s funding has been committed to serving disadvantaged communities and will support groundbreaking organizations like Project Petals.
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Damilola Asaleye | Nigeria
Named one of the foremost women in renewable energy in Nigeria by Environmental Africa Magazine, 2021 VV GROW Fellow Damilola Asaleye is the co-founder and COO of Ashdam Solar Co. LTD. By 2030, they aim to bring energy security to 50,000 urban households and 100 rural communities through clean, affordable and smart alternative energy solutions. Ashdam Solar is already on track to meet this goal, as they provide solar electrification for over 3,500 households and 21,000 individuals today.
In her role, Damilola has pioneered the company’s expansion into renewable energy education by starting the Ashdam Solar Academy. The Ashdam Solar Academy offers resources in the design, installation and maintenance of solar and energy storage systems in both commercial and personal spaces. They are able to do this with the help of, “An army of skilled entrepreneurs and engineers that will expand the market for renewable energy and make the energy transition to clean energy sources possible across Africa and beyond” Through online, in-person and hybrid options, the Academy has provided technical and nontechnical training and human capital development consulting to over 600 local women.
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Renata Koch Alvarenga | Brazil
“The inclusion, empowerment, and engagement of youth, especially young women, in peacebuilding brings innumerable benefits,” said Brazilian activist Renata Koch Alvarenga to UN Women. At just 22 years old, Renata founded EmpoderaClima, a multilingual and educational organization raising awareness of the disproportionate effects of climate change felt by women and girls in the Global South. EmpoderaClima takes a two-step approach through accessibility, focused on providing resources in multiple languages, and advocacy, centered around increasing women’s leadership in climate action and creating global partnerships for climate education. The EmpoderaClima database on gender and climate provides exclusive content in Portuguese, Spanish, English and French about gender equality, women’s empowerment and climate action to those who typically would not have access. It takes a youth and Latin American persepctive to the articles, events and posts it produces.
EmpoderaClima engages with several advocacy platforms at the international level, which inludes leading the Gender and Climate Education working group of Transform Education of the UN Girls’ Education Initiative. Renata has led high-level events around the world on behalf of EmpoderaClima with the Malala Fund, UN Climate and Ban-Kimoon Centre for Global Citizens. She has also spoken at a number of global summits, including the last three UN CLimate Conferences (COPS), the UN Commision on the Status of Women, and the New York Times climate events. She is currently a Master of Public Policy student at Harvard University. Renata is a 2021 Voices That Inspire Fellow and a 2022 VV Visionaries participant.
