We’re stoked to learn that Steph Evans, Ocean Youth Sydney Alumna, has been awarded the Northern Beaches Council Young Citizen of the Year 2021!!! From an early age, Steph has balanced school with her advocacy to fundraise, educate and inspire people to care for our oceans in order to protect them for the future.
Steph, now 17, founded her own charity Seas of Change when she was 10 years old. Originally called Save the Dugongs, it was created out of a want to give back to the animals in our world. With the help of Sea World Australia, she began fundraising for dugong research and donated the funds to Dr Janet Lanyon to help purchase much-needed equipment.
At 13, Steph became an Ocean Youth Ambassador for the SEA LIFE Conservation Trust, participating in the program to support young leaders and changemakers to influence positive action for oceans.
Since then, Steph attended the dugong health checks with Dr Janet Lanyon from the University of Queensland, received a scholarship to attend the Ocean Heroes Bootcamp in Vancouver, Canada in 2019 and was a squad leader for 2020. She presented at her local council in support of a motion to declare a Climate Emergency (it passed!) and presented at various schools and events, sharing her story and advice to inspire the next generation of leaders.
We are incredibly proud and inspired by Steph and the many passionate and drive youth that participate in the Ocean Youth program. The future looks very bright with young people like Steph coming through.
You can connect with Steph at her charity Seas of Change Australia.
