Susan Wagikondi Gachihi

When the soil under our feet is healthy, everything else has a chance to grow. My name is Susan Wagikondi Gachihi. I am a 19-year-old student pilot and the eldest sister in a family of five. Growing up, I watched the clean, green spaces around my neighborhood slowly disappear as trees were cut down and trash built up. Seeing this change hurt my heart, and it gave me my purpose. It is why I became an advocate for Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land) and started The Guardians of the Land, a project meant to protect our local environment. Learning to fly takes discipline and respect for nature, and taking care of our earth takes that same dedication. Beyond my pilot training, I used my position as a semi-finalist in Miss International Kenya 2026 to speak up for nature. But my real passion is working directly with my community. I recently went back to my former primary school, Harambee Primary, to teach Grade 7 students about waste management and plant four trees together. Seeing those kids excited to care for their new trees meant the world to me. I am applying for the Wezesha Awards because small, youth led projects like mine often struggle to get support. Winning this award would help give The Guardians of the Land the recognition and strength we need to reach even more schools, plant more trees, and show that young people can make a real difference today.