ITRI Visionary Young Leaders Awards 2021 Recipients
Janene Yazzie, Navaho Nation USA
Janene is a Dine entrepreneur, community organizer and human rights advocate from the Navajo Nation. She works on climate change, water security, food security, energy development, and nation building with indigenous communities. She is program manager of Sustainable Community Development with the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC).
She also represents IITC as the co-convener of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group (IPMG) to the United Nations High Level Political Forum on the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals. Co- founder of Sixth World Solutions LLP., and co-founder of the Navajo Nation Little Colorado River Watershed Chapters Association (LCRWCA). She has built expertise in infrastructure policy, integrated land and water management, and restoration and protection of traditional ecological knowledge (TEK). Janene Yazzie is a community organizer and human rights advocate that has worked on development and energy issues with Indigenous communities across the United States for over 12 years.
Juan Pablo Restrepo, Argentina
In 2006, Juan Pablo completed his AcroYoga Teacher Training, becoming one of the first teachers of this discipline. He has taught extensively in Latin America, and founded the School of Interpersonal Yoga, which provides a relational perspective on Yoga in the form of training, classes and workshops, and frequently teaches yogic philosophy for yoga teacher training programs throughout Argentina. The motivational force behind Juan Pablo’s educational offerings are to bring people into conscious relationship with each other and the natural environment.
He began his Buddhist studies in 2010, and has practiced Zen Buddhism since 2015. Juan Pablo is currently in the middle of working towards his doctorate in philosophy at La Universidad Nacional de San Juan and is in the process of writing his thesis on the Anthropocene period and how it has impacted the human experience of time and space.
In his research, he is bringing in Amerindian perspectives and Buddhism as alternatives to modern thought that offer a more respectful understanding of the natural world. He is also a member of the Nucleo de Etnografías Amerindias group in which he conducts doctoral research on topics related to the Anthropocene as well as Amerindian and Buddhist perspectives.
Juan Pablo organized an online educational series geared towards examining the ecological crisis from a spiritual lens. These sessions were aimed at cultivating dialogue and connection amongst ecological leaders and activists throughout Latin America. He co-organizes activities for the community focused on ecology and contemplative practices. His passion to usher in the healing power of spiritual practice and bring it into a transformative relationship with nature shines through in his work.
Nabayinda Racheal, Uganda
Born in Uganda, Nabayinda Racheal works to protect indigenous cultural rights, and the rights of Nature in the Mityana district of her home country. She is passionate about making a positive impact on fighting poverty and supporting women and young people in Uganda.
Since 2017, she has been a part of numerous projects which aim to strengthen women and youth groups in the Mityana district. This work strives to empower women and children, as well as protect the cultural heritage of Uganda. Nabayinda focuses on preserving the biodiversity in her region, which is deeply linked to the indigenous cultural heritage of Uganda.
Nabayinda supports an African NGO called Action Africa Help-International (AAH), which operates in six different countries. She works at AAH’s Uganda branch as Project Coordinator for the ‘Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Project’ and engages in issues such as water, sanitation, hygiene, child protection, women’s health, and environmental conservation.
Venerable VY Sovechea is from a traditional Cambodian rice farming family. He was born at the end of the Khmer Rouge Regime in 1979. Growing up in a country at war, he became a Buddhist monk at the age of 14. While living as a monk, he continued his formal education and received his bachelor’s degree in Education Science and Teaching English. He also holds a master’s degree in General Management.
With an innate belief that a Buddhist monk can and should play a key role of service to the larger community, Venerable Sovechea became involved and influenced by the Dhammayietra Peace Movement led by the Venerable Maha Ghosananda, a great Buddhist teacher, famously known as the Peace Monk of Cambodia.
Venerable VY Sovechea, Cambodia
Venerable VY Sovechea is now one of the country’s leading socially engaged Buddhists. Not only is he working in cooperation with various Buddhist humanitarian relief organizations around the world, he is also committed to working to preserve the legacy of Venerable Maha Ghosananda by reviving traditional Buddhist education in Cambodia, which was nearly destroyed.
Venerable VY Sovechea has had extensive experience in interreligious dialogue, both in the country and internationally. Under the auspices of Religions for Peace, he is actively involved in the International Campaigns to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions. He is also a liaison between USA and Khmer communities to improve educational opportunities like building schools, particularly for young village girls in the countryside.
He also serves as President of Preah Sihanouk Raja Buddhist University, Battambang Branch. He is also a consultant to the Provincial Committee Concerning Buddhist Sangha Affairs in Cambodia and is a member of Dhammayietra Mongkol Borei’s Board of Directors.
Ramphai Noikaew, Thailand
“Pi” Ramphai was born and raised in Thailand, “The Land of Smiles”. At birth, she was given a name meaning, “The sunshine after the rain is gone” which, to all who know her, is rather appropriate. She grew up in a small rural village near the Thai-Laos border. As her grandparents migrated from Laos, she grew up with a unique cultural blend that has greatly influenced her language, way of living, farming, preparing food and interacting with the world.
Ramphai is passionate about engaging youth and empowering them to become aware of our interconnectedness with all living things. She has worked with NGOs in Sri Lanka assisting small-scale farmers to adapt to climate change under the FK Norway project.
She received a scholarship to join the South East Asia Permaculture Convergence in the Philippines. She led a delegation of young people to participate environmental panels at the Asia Pacific Environmental International Youth Forum in South Korea.
Currently, Ramphai lives in an ecovillage in Northern Thailand called Pun Pun Center for Self Reliance where she runs educational programs for students on sustainable living practices such as implementing simple water filtration systems, organic farming, ecological building design and construction. She facilitates workshops in both Thailand and Internationally where she teaches permaculture principles, natural product making and natural healthcare for women. As a long-term Pun Pun community member, Ramphai takes a leadership role in managing community development, including emotional well-being and childcare.
Artemis Samartzi, Greece
She is currently part of several educational initiatives that focus on building community where young people can share their life concerns and stories. “The Spine of the City of Athens” and “Hestia” are spaces for young people to come together for dialogue on local and world issues and help young people recognize they are part of a global community. She is training to be a facilitator to lead dialogue sessions in the tradition of 'Way of Council'.
Artimis is also working with people in her community to design a walking school along the ancient route in Athens to create an ecological corridor and unite Greek culture with Nature, and also Nature within us.
Her parents named her, Artimis, after the Greek goddess of the moon, who is the protector of animals, plants and children. Artimis has felt a deep love and appreciation for Nature since her childhood.
She pursued a degree in law while teaching swimming to young girls. She has expanded her studies to other forms of healing including somatic healing, art therapy, and meditation.
Bria Morton-Lane, USA
Bria Morton-Lane is a Junior Biology major at Howard University. She serves as the Treasurer and Lead Junior Farmer for The Plantation Park Heights Urban Farm and Garden in Baltimore City. Bria has helped The Plantation cultivate over 45,000 pounds of food during the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped feed over 4,000 families throughout Baltimore city this past year. Bria has led The Plantation’s Farmers to Families Free Food Box Giveaway which gives free boxes of fresh produce to families in Baltimore city communities. Bria also works very closely with the children to train them on urban agriculture.
This includes teaching the children how to properly water plants, seed trays, transplant plants from tray to ground, harvest, and cooking, teaching children the importance of growing, consuming and sustaining their own food. Upon completion of an undergraduate degree in Biology, Bria plans to pursue a Master's in Public Health in order to use her experiences and training to open urban farms on a global scale. Bria plans to influence local, national, and global health policies. Bria’s mission is to develop inspired, joyful, and confident future leaders who will think critically, develop independence, and become community leaders.