If you follow our social media pages or read the latest issue of Holly Leaves magazine, you’ll be aware of the inspiring work that Year 1 pupil Aleesha has been doing in her mission to save the rainforests and raise awareness about climate change.
Aleesha was first inspired by a project on rainforests in Mrs Heatlie’s class, where she learned about all the animals that live in this special habitat who are losing their homes due to deforestation.
| Did you know that rainforests contain more than half of all plant and animal species in the entire world?! Bengal tigers, mountain gorillas, orangutans, jaguars, giant otters and many more magnificent animals are found in rainforests. Sadly, many of these species are facing extinction as their habitats are destroyed. |
Inspired to find out more about how we can protect the rainforests, Aleesha began writing to big companies during lockdown to find out what they are doing to tackle deforestation and climate change (with help from mum Pooja).
In addition to responses from major corporations like Ocado, Nestlé, Kimberly Clarke and Douwe Egberts, she received letters from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
The Greta Thunberg of Nottingham? 💐🌻
You’ll hear more on @bbcsounds https://t.co/DnJxZtCeaf
After learning about deforestation 🌲🌳 6 year old Aleesha wrote to Her Majesty The Queen and Sir David Attenborough who both gave handwritten responses. pic.twitter.com/sC34Z1iDpX
— BBC Radio Nottingham (@BBCNottingham) July 28, 2021
She was delighted to receive heart-warming words of encouragement from some pretty impressive people, including children’s author Julia Donaldson, a hand-written note from Sir David Attenborough, and even a letter from Buckingham Palace on behalf of The Queen!
Aleesha’s Fundraising
Not content with raising awareness, over the summer holidays Aleesha has decided to get active fundraising for Cool Earth, a conservation charity that works with rainforest communities to halt deforestation and its impact on climate change. She set herself the challenge of scooting 50 miles and has already raised over £3,000 – what an incredible achievement! She’s now been selected to be Youth Ambassador for the charity.
Her inspiring story has been picked up by Nottingham Local News, BBC Radio Nottingham, Sky News, The Week Junior, and Eastern Eye. Take a look at her interview on BBC News below:
Get Involved
On the 26th of August, Aleesha will be interviewing Ruth Edwards, MP for Rushcliffe, about climate change and the rainforests. Aleesha and mum Pooja have asked us at Hollygirt to see if any of the children and young people in our community have a question they would like Aleesha to ask. To submit a question email clairejones@holygirt.sch.uk
We are so proud of Aleesha’s amazing achievements and inspired by her passion for saving our planet. Keep up the good work – we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!
If you’d like to support Aleesha’s fundraising you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/aleesha-gadhia
We are so proud of Aleesha’s amazing achievements and inspired by her passion for saving our planet. Keep up the good work – we can’t wait to see what you accomplish next!
¹Rainforest Trust: https://www.rainforesttrust.org/climate-action/
²Rainforest Alliance: https://www.rainforest-alliance.org/insights/how-forests-fight-climate-change/