Noah Syrkin Mouynes
Panama, 16
He/Him
Project: GOAL Panama
Soccer had always been how Noah built community, so when his family moved to Panama, extreme heat and neglected fields felt like a real loss. He founded GOAL Panama to bring young people from different backgrounds together through the game while drawing them into climate action. GOAL converts run-down soccer fields into cooler, greener public spaces, planting native trees that lower ground temperatures by as much as 12°C. Reviving existing fields rather than building new ones avoids further environmental damage and keeps restoration locally driven and youth-led. The organization also redistributes recycled soccer equipment to underserved communities, removing another barrier to play. Noah is now expanding restoration across Panama and building partnerships with community leaders to maintain each site, so young people nationwide can reclaim safe, cool places to play, gather, and care for their environment.