2024 Award Recipient
HilaTor
Project Planet Youth Project
Project Planet Youth Project
Hila’s inspiration to take action on climate change came from an unexpected place: her AP Language class. When a beloved teacher used lessons of social justice as a means of teaching language, it sparked a passion in Hila.
She had an idea to create a climate change curriculum for elementary school students, since they are the generation that will be most impacted. When Hila applied to start a school club, her proposal was rejected. But this did not stop her — she researched, created a curriculum with comprehensive lesson plans, and filed to create a nonprofit called Planet Youth Project (PYP).
Since then, PYP has reached more than 1,000 students through free programming at 15 elementary schools across King County.
By introducing the climate crisis to elementary-aged children through an empowering lens, Hila’s program helps kids build long-term sustainable habits, develop new skills, become outspoken leaders in their communities, and have fun along the way.
Planet Youth Project (PYP) is a teen-led nonprofit dedicated to providing free climate education to elementary school students. Through seasonal in-person and virtual programs, classroom presentations, STEM nights, assemblies, and other outreach and events, PYP works to introduce the climate crisis to children from Kindergarten through 5th grade with an engaging curriculum focused on action. To date, PYP has trained a network of 50 volunteers and led free programs for more than 1,000 elementary school students in 15 schools.
