At the age of 12, Prasiddhi Singh—already known as “India’s Greta Thunberg”—has, over the course of a few years, planted more than 150,000 trees, becoming a symbol of real environmental change. The cyclone Vardah, which struck the south of India in 2016, left a deep impression on her, and at just 7 years old she planted her first tree in response to the destruction it caused. From that personal step, a movement formed that, after five years, turned into the Prasiddhi Forest Foundation, bringing together volunteers and running educational projects.
Her main idea is fruit groves on school and community land: layered plantings of edible crops that provide fresh fruit, help clean the air, and create new eco-friendly spaces. To date, 14 such forests have been established, and the “3G” approach (Green, Grow, Give—greening the city, growing food, and helping society) has become the foundation of the movement.
Prasidddhi has spoken at TEDx and at climate summits of the United Nations, and she received a national award for her achievements in ecology. Her example shows how an initiative by one person can grow into a large movement and help change attitudes toward the environment across an entire country.
