"Equity in Education"
"I grew up seeing how many students are left behind by an education system that doesn’t match the pace of our changing world. Too often, climate, innovation, and leadership are missing from classrooms, while many schools still lack even the basics. Seeds for Change is my way of closing that gap by creating accessible, practical solutions."
-Irem Su Yildira, Founder of Seeds of Change
"What began as a small effort to make my own school a better place to learn at age 15 has grown into a movement. Today, I am proud that Seeds for Change reaches thousands of students and continues to expand every day."
We often expect ambitious projects and transformative ideas from young people, yet as a society, we rarely provide them with the resources or environments to make those ideas possible. When I entered high school, even at one of the best schools in the city, I found empty workshops, unused laboratories, and almost no space for collaboration. That absence made it clear how much potential was being left untapped. I began creating clubs, forming climate-tech teams, and building opportunities from scratch. At first, many classmates didn’t connect with these efforts, and that was understandable. Without the right infrastructure or exposure, it was difficult for any of us to cultivate the awareness or confidence needed to lead. But how can we expect students to become changemakers if they are never given the chance to try?
I knew I could not place laboratories in every school, but I could design something scalable and accessible: a platform for students at all K-12 levels to develop climate awareness, gain essential skills, and translate ideas into tangible projects. What begins as small initiatives can grow into meaningful, long-term impact. Recognizing the realities of village schools without computers or internet access, I launched fundraisers to provide kits, booklets, and basic resources. In parallel, I organized tree-planting activities, seminars, and classroom workshops, because education is most powerful when it is tied to action.
I can not reinvent the entire education system. But by embedding these elements and by partnering with schools and principals, we can create real change. Seeds for Change is living proof of this approach. For me, the greatest reward is not recognition but seeing other students inspired to launch their own initiatives, and being there to support them as they take their first steps.