Volunteers' Week 2022: Meet Inaaya Ijaz, An Inspiring Young Litter-Picker and Climate Activist

At just twelve years old, Inaaya Ijaz is already a committed volunteer and climate activist on a mission to tackle the climate and plastic-crisis. She does this in part through day-to-day activities like litter-picking, taking part in initiatives like the Great British Spring Clean.

She also works hard to educate others on the damaging effect of litter and single-use plastics on our planet. She raises awareness through her involvement with the Kids Against Plastic Club, and through her radio show.

Volunteering Week takes place from 1 to 7 June every year, and is a chance to recognise the fantastic contribution volunteers like Inaaya make to our communities and to thank them for their efforts.

Inaaya first started volunteering when she was young because “it made me feel good, like I was doing something for the environment and our planet.”

But before long, she started to notice her eco-action was having a knock-on effect and inspiring others to get involved.

She said: "I then noticed that it had a positive impact on those around me like friends and family, they also wanted to get involved because they saw me doing it.”

Despite her young age, Inaaya has accomplished a great deal through her voluntary work, inspiring her school to ban single-use plastic water bottles from the canteen, and to “create an environment and volunteer pledge tree where all students make a pledge about how they will volunteer or do an environmentally good act.”

Inaaya’s voluntary work has not gone unnoticed. This year, she was asked to speak at an Earth Day summit, and last year created a Christmas card for MPs to inspire them to have a plastic-free Christmas.

“I love that all the government MPs saw this Christmas card and thought more about how they can have a more sustainable and greener Christmas.” Inaaya told us.

Inaaya hosts a fortnightly radio station called 24 Hours Radio where she plays music and talks about environmental issues, and explained to us that “None of this would have been possible if it hadn't been for my volunteering. Skills I've developed include confidence, team work, collaboration and perseverance.  These are skills for life.”

As well as improving her skillset, Inaaya has also found that volunteering “makes me feel happy, it gives me and those around me positive energy.  I have a reason to be outdoors and these days it's hard to get out when there is so much going on inside.  It gives me a break from all the technology around us, it's healthy and I get a good sleep at the end of the night!”

A member of the Keep Britain Tidy team said: “Inaaya’s work as a volunteer and climate activist is to be admired. Not only is she taking action to improve the environment in her local area, she’s also inspiring others to get involved.”

“We want to thank Inaaya for all she does to inspire and educate young people about the issue of litter and single-use plastic, and for supporting campaigns like the Great British Spring Clean. #LitterHeroes like Inaaya are leading the way, helping to improve the environment for future generations, and proving that nobody is too young to make a big difference.”

Volunteers’ Week is supported and celebrated by small grassroots organisations as well as larger, household-name charities, who together run hundreds of activities across the UK. These activities showcase and celebrate volunteers and the contribution volunteering makes in our communities.