Fourteen-year-old environmental activist Aryan Gautam wants to show people that taking care of the environment starts with each of us, whether globally or at home in Mississauga, Ontario. As the Peel region’s youngest founder and director of the federally incorporated environmental non-profit organization, Save The Planet – Open Doors, one of his priorities is to encourage and include youth in his environmental activities. The organization’s social media seeks not only to chronicle his efforts but to inspire young people to participate.
In the best spirit of young entrepreneurs, he is constantly conceiving and acting on new ideas for helping to protect the environment. Last year he collected and recycled 500 aluminum cans from around his neighbourhood – a personal challenge he detailed in an article for the Mississauga News – and challenged fellow citizens to match his target. Lately, he’s launched Project Butternut Reforestation, aimed at diversifying and restoring butternut trees, one of just two native walnut species in Canada and on the endangered list. He’s also working on an initiative called H.E.E.R (Housing Energy Efficiency Rating), which aims to add a metric of eco-efficiency to real estate listings, working to ensure that H.E.E.R is implemented into MLS (Multiple Listing Service).
Aryan Gautam is currently in Grade 9 at Erindale Secondary School. He has been interested in being a lawyer and a politician ever since he was small. Aryan’s hobbies include solving the Rubik’s Cube (junior champion for Rubik’s Cube in under 40 seconds), environmentalism, coding, information technology, sports, stocks, entrepreneurship, cars, music, politics, and much more! Some of his accomplishments include receiving 2 letters of appreciation and a leadership badge from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his contribution to the Liberal Party. His community work was published by news articles and magazines for receiving the Community leadership award from MP Sven Spengemann. He works closely with his community to ensure that everyone does their part to help out. His favourite subjects are science, math, english, and phys-ed. One of his special talents is playing many musical instruments. He has also achieved various awards for sports and public speaking. Aryan’s Brother Sidharth is a role model to him. Sidharth Gautam is planning a career into the vast field of medicine and is currently completing his Pre-Medical Education from McMaster University in Hamilton. He also shares many of his interests with his brother such as his concern for the health of the environment, and to construct the means to a more green and efficient future for humankind to continue its evolution in. He wishes to study the harmful illnesses and contagions that humans are susceptible to and to aid the world in making humans more resistant to bacteria to ensure a safer future.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”― Mother Teresa. Let’s all be more global, more humble, more accepting, and generous to each other and towards our community. Let’s be that ripple in the waters that can bring about a wave of change. Hope and faith can bring a positive change to every outlook and perception. Let’s connect with each other more and be kind to our planet Earth which is the first and only source to our survival. Let’s save it, preserve it, and cherish it for generations to come. No wonder our mission and vision hails “Save The Planet – Open Doors”.
