This is the story of a remarkable young girl who rose to international fame as a climate activist.

Licypriya Kangujam was born in Manipur, India, on October 2, 2011. She belongs to the Meitei community. She is the daughter of Kanarjit Kangujam Singh and Bidyarani Devi Kangujam Ongbi.

In July 2018, her father took her to Mongolia to attend the Asian Ministerial Conference for Disaster Risk Reduction. At the time, she was just six years old.

The conference opened her eyes to the dangers of climate change. She heard the speeches and felt a strong urge to take action. She wanted to make her country a healthier place to live, free from pollution and disasters. She was worried for the babies and little children.

Licypriya founded “The Child Movement” in 2018. To raise awareness about climate issues, she encouraged children to participate in various programs and engage with their communities. She realized that children have an important role in shaping their future.

Licypriya has spoken at multiple TEDx events. She talks about the importance of climate action and inspires others to join the movement. By sharing her story on international stages, she has motivated countless young people to fight against climate change issues.

She organized protests and rallies to ask the government to act quickly. She stressed the urgent need to address the impacts of climate change in India. Soon, her speeches gained attention internationally.

It was important to act fast. Her country suffered from increasing air and water pollution and intense weather conditions like heat waves, earthquakes, droughts, and floods.

She pushed for climate change literacy to be made mandatory in schools. Educating children and youth about climate issues will teach them to protect the environment and create a better world for themselves and future generations.

Licypriya was inspired by the brave Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg.

Greta protested before the Swedish Parliament to take stronger action against climate change. Greta skipped school and stood outside the parliament with a sign that read School Strike for Climate. This sparked a global student movement called Fridays for the Future. Students skipped school to raise awareness about climate change.

In June 2019, Licypriya spent a week outside the Indian Parliament House. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to pass a climate change law. She stood alone in the protest, carrying a placard reading Dear Mr. Modi & MPs, Pass the climate change law. Act now. Several times, police and security guards asked her to leave the grounds. She refused.

Her protest attracted significant media coverage and public attention. Her determination paid off. Several members of the parliament raised the issue for the first time during their discussions in the Lok Sabha.

Licipriya was determined to create a cleaner environment for her country. She talked about the need to limit air pollution, especially in cities like Delhi, which faced severe air quality issues. The law would penalize polluters for excessive emissions, largely from fossil fuels.

In October 2019, she led The Great October March from India Gate to Parliament House. Hundreds of young people gathered to demand climate justice and raise awareness of the urgent need to take legislative action.

The same year, Licypriya was invited to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid, Spain. There, she spoke to world leaders and showed her presence on the global stage as a climate activist. They admired her determination and courage to stand before world leaders and speak up for climate justice at such a young age.

In October 2020, she stood alone to protest against air pollution outside the President’s House in New Delhi. Her efforts finally led to public support and resulted in the enactment of a law to combat air pollution in Delhi.

At the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) held in Dubai in December 2023, Licypriya Kangujam burst onto the stage holding a sign that read End fossil fuels. Save our planet and our future.

Her actions drew applause from the audience. However, the conference security officers detained her temporarily for being disruptive during the official United Nations Conference.

Despite the challenges, Licypriya Kangujam remains steadfast in her mission. She actively shares updates on her social media platforms and engages with supporters all over the world. Her ability to connect with others inspires more individuals to join the fight for a healthier planet.

As part of humanitarian efforts in 2024, as Manipur struggled with violence and natural disasters, Licypriya started a project to build 100 free houses for affected families. The initiative showcased her commitment not only to climate activism but also to helping people.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she launched the India Needs Oxygen campaign. She raised over $100,000 to provide oxygen concentrators for people who needed them. Here, she demonstrated her leadership and compassion during a severe global crisis.

In 2019, the feisty activist received the World Children's Peace Prize and the SDGs Ambassador Award at Chandigarh University. The awards recognized her dedication to advocating for children’s rights in environmental protection.

Licypriya Kangujam is a firm advocate for educating children about climate change. She believes it is essential to create sustainable solutions. Including climate education in schools empowers the next generation to understand environmental issues and be proactive about them.

Licypriya aims to cultivate a sense of responsibility and stewardship for the planet by teaching children about climate change in school. Her mission is to build a future where informed children can influence their families and communities. She strives to drive collective action toward sustainability. This approach inspires young people to be active in the fight against climate change.

Licypriya Kangujam is an extraordinary example of how one young person can significantly impact global issues like climate change.

Her path to being an influential activist has been phenomenal. She courageously fought big powers to make her voice heard.

Now twelve years old, Licypriya is a powerful motivator and activist. Her unwavering dedication reminds us that we can cause change together and fight to make a better world for ourselves and the children of the future.

Shobana Gomes is an award-winning poet and writer from Malaysia, recognized for her evocative storytelling and poetic advocacy. Her Gift A Child A Book Initiative reflects her deeply held belief that every child deserves access to quality education and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society. This initiative has inspired her journey into writing children’s and young adult books, emphasizing themes of empowerment and compassion.
Her latest book, From Skopje to India, follows the mission of a courageous girl who travels to India to teach impoverished children in Calcutta, shedding light on the transformative power of education. Another acclaimed work, Where the Rain Falls, won the 2023 International Firebird Book Award, portraying how a family survives during a drought-induced environmental crisis.
Shobana’s literary ventures are deeply influenced by her love for nature, travel, and life experiences. She has authored numerous books that are available on Amazon. Her poetry can be found on her website, Shobana and her Author Website on BookBub.