"“We focus so much on survival, but what about living? We’re losing young people to non-communicable diseases because we’re not integrating healthcare services; HIV is not what is killing them. That has to change.”"

"“I was inspired to do this work because young people are always left behind in the HIV space. Growing up, I saw people dying from preventable causes simply because they didn’t have access to treatment or felt too stigmatised to ask for it.”"

"“We need more than good intentions. We need investments—flexible, feminist, and rooted in the lived realities of young people. You cannot talk about progress and leave AGYW behind.”"

"“The work starts at home—with national budgets, political will, and systems that serve women and girls. Don’t outsource your commitments. Own them.”"

"“Men in rural communities tend to have smartphones, while women rely on basic feature phones, by using SMS alerts, we ensure women aren’t left behind.”"

"“Additionally, the technology has been successfully piloted across five African countries, showcasing its adaptability and potential for scalable impact across diverse agricultural landscapes.”"

"“I knew I was leaving home to change home, I saw how innovation could address the struggles of rural farmers, and that’s how Farmer Lifeline was born.”"

"“Entrepreneurship isn’t something you plan; it’s something you do when you see a need,”"

"“Dare to dream — and dream big. When I was a girl farming in my village, I never imagined standing on global stages. But with hard work and belief, anything is possible.”"

"“My greatest inspiration is the farming community I grew up with. To get the opportunity to empower them gives me a reason to get up every day and do what I do.”"

"“I knew it would be risky. I had no capital, no team, and no guarantee of success. But I also knew that the potential impact of my work was worth the risk.”"

"“I quickly realised that technology could solve real-world problems,”"

"“We’ve made AI as easy as reading a text, because that’s what our farmers do every day.”"

"My parents would lose up to 40% of their crops each farming season, which affected our standard of living. We are empowering smallholder farmers, many of whom are women, to increase their income. We aim to scale to one million farmers in the next five years."

"“Mentorship has been crucial, as a young founder, especially in tech, having advisors who believe in your vision makes all the difference.”"

"“Young founders in tech need more than capital — we need people who believe in us. That belief changes everything.”"

"Take the application seriously and make sure you align with the eligibility criteria … When you give it your best, it gives back in the best ways."

"What excites me most is their ability to rethink challenges as opportunities, whether it’s turning waste into energy, creating new livelihoods, or designing technologies rooted in local realities"

"Young people are creating solutions, they're advocating for us to protect our environment and I encourage them to keep doing that and coming up with fresh ideas"

"We don’t need more pledges; we need partnerships that trust local capacity and channel resources to where they will save both lives and the planet"

"I’ve seen so many smart, practical solutions remain stuck at the community level, not because they don’t work, but because the people behind them aren’t trusted or supported enough to scale"

"When given trust and investment, they not only participate in the green economy but also have the power to redefine it and position Africa as a global leader in sustainable innovation"

"We want to protect the environment as well as the health of our local communities"

"The inspiration came from a very personal place"

"Africa doesn’t lack innovation; it just needs more trust and support to let that innovation flourish"

"climate action is not charity, it’s creativity, courage, and community in motion"

"our collective consumer choices can shift markets faster than any policy ever could"

"This new generation is redefining what leadership looks like and proving that the solutions we need already exist where the problems are most urgent"

"To truly scale impact, we need policymakers and governments involved to drive broader awareness and education"

"Once men realise their wives can earn an income for something she is already doing for free in the house, they become the ones vouching for women to get jobs. Once husbands and their wives are both working, it gives them more time to spend with their children, given their financial constraints lessen. This empowers everyone in the household ."

"Government support through policy could accelerate progress"

"Reforestation and nature-based carbon projects led by local women’s cooperatives are severely underfunded"

"I am confident that household gender norms will change over time. From my perspective, a lot of men are realising that by allowing their wives to work, they can ease the financial burden of being the only provider"

"The impact of household air pollution, especially in rural areas, is not well understood"

"If you have a solution for Africa, for the environment, for people - let people know, and allow yourself to get the support you need"

"Climate solutions that don’t reach the poorest communities are incomplete"

"I’m renewing my personal commitment to consume more consciously, to buy less, repair more, and support brands that prioritize people and the planet"

"Climate justice must mean that no one is left breathing smoke, living in darkness, or paying the price for a crisis they didn’t create."

"Stop talking about inclusion, fund it"

"How will a monument help somebody whose personal integrity has been violated and who needs compensation for medical support and money to go back to school, who needs her children to be educated…The memorialization means nothing to me if my child doesn’t go to school, if the women can’t go back to school, if they don’t get medical help, if their fistula is not fixed, if their bodies are not healed… that means nothing"

"If you stop, who will fight for you?"

"What if my daughter asks me about it? What am I going to answer? Does it matter to me what my in-laws think? What does it mean to me when my child starts condemning me? What if my husband leaves me? You manage the dynamics around you immediately, and then you develop resilience"

"My singular motivation is that… if [the government] is responsible for me, when I do something bad it throws me in the slammer. In the same way, when it does badly, it should be thrown in the slammer"

"My personal vision is that I will do all I can do with the ability I have"

"Not just in Kenya but the world over, women in high seats and who interact with men are viewed negatively. I appreciate that I can never control what people say, think or spread, that is why it is called a rumour"

"Some male leaders use the word when women engage in discussions to put us down. What they need to understand is women too are entitled to opinions. If anything, we are flower girls because we are beautiful but the word should not be used derogatorily. Inasmuch as we have affirmative action, I am hoping the law is fully implemented and women are given what is rightfully theirs. We appreciate the efforts made by some men but there are others who still think a woman cannot achieve anything without sleeping her way to it"

"If I am not able to do anything for the young people and women of my nation, my story and journey should be an encouragement and inspiration that regardless of your background, you can make it."

"It breaks my heart to see teenage girls become mothers out of sexual abuse, early sexual debut, and other vices, and I would like to spearhead a movement that can deal with these teenage issues"

"The sky is the limit, and I would like to see myself growing and pushing to spearhead the establishment of many such initiatives"

"A woman doesn’t have to lose touch with her female attributes such as being caring and nurturing. You still look good and wear your skirts but even as you are feminine, that does not prevent you from following your dreams."