Cpl. Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun-Githae

Ellyanne Wanjiku Chlystun-Githae is Africa's Youngest Climate Finance & Health Champion. She  was recently appointed to sit on the Steering Council of ORRAA (Ocean Risk & Resilience Action  Alliance) as the youngest council member. Also sits on the Sustainability Board of New Castle Town, Westchester County, New  York State. 

In September 2024, she was slated as a keynote youth speaker at various upcoming UNGA79 – United Nations General Assembly 79 sessions, UN Global Compact CEOs Breakfast, UNICEF Future Youth  Employment Forum. Ellyanne recently graduated as a young military cadet in Alabama, where she  went through intense physical training, leadership, organizational skills, discipline, motivation, personal courage 

Ellyanne has worked with various private sector organizations, NGOs like DHL Global Forwarding, UNICEF, Rotary International, Safaricom, End Plastic Soup, World Council of  Churches, WWF, Plan International, CARE Int’l, JENA Jesuits, Global Fund, on big sustainability,  ESG, sustainable aviation fuel, global supply chain & shipping, child health, child rights, artificial intelligence & innovative technology. Ellyanne has starred in award-winning films and documentaries including the award-winning 'Save the Planet' & 'Save Our Wildlife' with Sky  News, for COP27 & COP28. Both films received various international film nominations and won 2 awards. 

Whilst Ellyanne is cognizant that there is an urgency for all to work towards Net Zero, she uses peace and diplomacy to influence policymakers and lawmakers. She possesses unique and outstanding skills and characteristics. She has an ability to address and interact with Presidents, CEO, Policy & Law Makers whilst at the same time influencing children and youth to positive action. Including going deep into the red zones that would otherwise be seen as unsafe,  because of her passion to change lives for the better 

At just 14 years, she has been a catalyst for over 1.3 million trees being planted in different countries including mangroves with coastal communities & children in Diani.  

Earning her Kenya's prestigious Mashujaa (Hero 2018 alongside Eliud Kipchoge), the Eco-Warrior Award 2019, the Youngest Rotary Paul Harris Fellow 2019, nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize 2023. Ellyanne is also a published author of 3 books, keen on innovation,  and published her 4th book on Artificial Intelligence & Technology for Good. In partnership with  Africa AI, she has trained and certified over 200 children and teens on basic AI, ChatGPT &  Microsoft Dall-E skills. She has been featured by variousinternational newspapers, magazines &  publications 

Inspired by Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai, Ellyanne addresses climate change's  impact on vulnerable communities and young people through positive action. As the Founder &  CEO of Children With Nature (CWN), she promotes connecting children to the natural world. Her advocacy extends globally, influencing policymakers and leaders, driving a paradigm shift for  a more sustainable and equitable world. She is also the youngest partner at Wear Spray, an innovative American company that is revolutionizing malaria prevention for mosquito bites,  using eco-friendly tools.

In 2023, she was announced as the Youngest Global Malaria Ambassador and became a Public  Health Champion, speaking at the  UNFCCC & World Health Organization COP28 in Dubai, then visiting communities affected by  malaria in Zimbabwe, Kenya and highlighting the Intersections between climate change &  health & and its role in malaria challenges. Whilst starring in an international campaign with fellow Zero Malaria Ambassador & Footballer David Beckham, she  was the youngest speaker on health at the Africa Climate Summit and at COP28 in Dubai, at the  1st ever Health Pavilion and Reaching the Last Mile Presidential ceremony. She is currently running the award-winning "Change the Story" an end malaria campaign with David Beckham.  She is also part of the WHO All Hazards Emergency Response Committee in Kenya. Very passionate about the Intersections between Climate and Health. 

In June 2023 in Paris, Ellyanne led a team of 6 children to prepare and present the New Global  Financial Pact Children's Declaration to President Emmanuel Macron with. And on the sidelines of the Africa Climate Summit, Ellyanne led a committee of 17 children from around the world to organize the 1st ever Child-Led Global Children Climate Summit tapping into her own savings and friends. This meeting was attended by bid number of children and  youth, resulting to the GCCS Children’s Declaration 

Ellyanne was the youngest champion appointed by the Ministry of Environment & Forestry to sit  on the Michuki Memorial Park Rehabilitation task force, a green space in the capital city of  Kenya Nairobi, that became an escape for families during the covid19 season.  Together with the former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Cabinet Secretary Keriako Tobiko &chiefs, leaders from all over Kenya, they launched and officially opened  Michuki Park to the public.