Oryza Sativa Afra Iftikar
Indonesia, 20
She/Her
Project: Garuda WaterGuard
Watching Indonesia's water pollution crisis worsen, Oryza designed Garuda WaterGuard, a system built to protect freshwater ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Powered by AI, Garuda uses real-time monitoring and automated remediation to detect, predict, and stop contamination before it spreads. It is designed for places where water infrastructure is fragmented or missing entirely, giving them a single platform for continuous water management. In November 2025, Garuda received the Outstanding Solution Award at the World Water Challenge, judged by a panel of global experts. Following a successful pilot in a remote village, Oryza is adapting the model for other countries facing freshwater pollution and building Garuda into a dedicated youth organization that combines technological innovation, environmental education, and cross-sector collaboration. Her aim is to move water management from reactive to preventative — and to grow a generation of climate innovators along the way.