Melati Wijsen has founded Bye Bye Plastic Bags at the age of 12 with her younger sister and has been leading the movement driven by youth for 5 years now.
She has also started the people movement One Island One Voice and the social enterprise, Mountain Mama's. Melati has spoken on world stages such as TED and the UN and has also been selected as FORBES top ten most inspiring women in the country.
Being very passionate to protect the ocean, she is also an alumni member of the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council. Melati Wijsen recently graduated from high school one year early at the Green School and is excited about her new Youth empowerment project; empowering youth through education and providing them the tools they need to be change makers.
Melati's best quotes:
“I think some people wish for change, some people are afraid of it, some people will never change- or accept change. But our generation does not have the luxury to not change.”
“Our systems need to be more people centred and impact oriented.” “Stop teaching people, start engaging people.”
“Education is outdated, traditional, and not harnessing the skills needed to anticipate the problems we need to solve.”
“...It is only natural that my next project will involve youth empowerment through education. I met so many bright youth who were doing the same, or who want to do the same. It’s about providing the tools, the skills training, the experience for them to be able to create their own change. My next urge to for change became clear, I want to create a new story for youth to believe and a new society for humanity to live in. CHANGE - It will be the only constant factor in our lives and it’s up to on how we embrace it.“
“Mountain Mamas is the ultimate social enterprise with a circular system empowering women to produce alternative bags from pre-loved materials. 50% of the profit goes back to the community where the women live to implement waste management, create healthcare, and improve education. All of these aspects making the circle nice and round.”
