business magnates | leadership icons | sportingheroes | science pioneers |cultural figures | philanthropic champions
“Every young person should recognise that working with their hands and their hearts and
their minds and being interconnected is the highest evolution of our species.” – Vandana Shiva
89
India
Sanjit “Bunker” Roy(b.1945)
Founder, Barefoot College
he social activist started a school
in Tilonia village, Rajasthan, to
give lessons in reading, writing
and accounting to rural adults and
children. His work has trained more
than three million people for a diverse
range of jobs, including teachers,
weavers, solar engineers and doctors.92
India
Afroz Shah (b.1 98 4)
Lawyer & environmental organiser
he young lawyer spearheaded the
“world’s largest beach cleanup project”
when he and a neighbour decided to
manually clean up Mumbai’s notoriously
dirty Versova beach, inspiring more than
12,000 people to join in. Within two
years, the beach went from a shin-deep
dump yard to turtle hatchery.90
India
Rajendra Singh(b.19 5 9)
Water conservationist
he recipient of the Stockholm Water
Prize (2015) helps villagers harness water
resources for drinking, washing and
bathing. His work has helped bring water
back to over1,000 villages and revived
rivers in India. In the UK, Singh founded
an NGO to counter the negativeefects
of soil erosion andlooding.93
Philippines
Naderev “Yeb” Saño
Climate activist
Currently the executive director of
Greenpeace Southeast Asia, Saño
gained global atention in 2 01 3 when
he made an emotional appeal for a
climate change accord during UN
climate talks in Poland, following the
devastation caused by super-typhoon
Haiyan in the Philippines.91
Thailand
hanong Leeissaranukul
Managing director, Sittipol 1919
he managing director of the
leading auto-parts supplier is
known for working closely with the
hai Red Cross – through a “direct
social return” programme known
as “Sitipol We Care” – in raising
awareness about and encouraging
organ donation.94
India
Dr Vandana Shiva (b.19 5 2)
Indian scholar & environmental activist
he scientist and “food sovereignty”
activist’s many initiatives include
organic farming and conservation
of seeds, and training farmers in
sustainable methods of agriculture.
She has also formed over 4 0
seed banks in India to provide
opportunities for diverse agriculture.SOURCE © WIKIMEDIA COMMONSSOURCE © GREENS 2017SOURCE © WIKIMEDIA COMMONS PHOTO © THAILAND TATLERPHOTO © UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCE © THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT