Vivian Liu
USA & China, 17
She/Her
Project: Origami For Good
Only 12% of American teenagers say they feel informed about climate action — a statistic that struck Vivian as both a failure and an opening. She co-founded Origami For Good to teach conservation through Japanese cultural tradition and accessible environmental education. Recognized by the Texas State Board of Education, the program has students fold discarded paper into origami while learning about biodiversity and sustainability. With 300+ youth-led chapters in 50+ countries, Origami For Good has recycled 820,000+ sheets of paper, raised $30,000 for sustainability education, and reached 9.8 million people through workshops and digital storytelling. Vivian also designs free climate curricula that teachers at underserved U.S. schools can use without any prior climate expertise, and advocates for climate literacy in roles with the United Nations and the Institute for Youth in Policy. Creativity, she argues, is what makes environmental education stick.