August's Young Planet Leader - Sophia Diaz
Sophia Diaz is a 14-year-old ocean advocate from South Florida, USA. She is very passionate about sharks and sea conservation and has been dreaming of becoming a Marine Biologist since she was 6 years old.
Sophia has also been a Girl Scout since Kindergarten. At 10, with her parents, she started volunteering at MEEC, the Marine Environmental Education Center in Hollywood, Florida, a wonderful organization that helps create awareness about marine conservation and sea turtles. Earlier this year, along with other Sister Scouts, she helped paint more than 500 wood stakes to mark endangered sea turtles’ nests in Broward County.
As a native South Floridian, she knows the damage hurricanes and sea level rise can do to our coastal communities, so she’s helped restore our coastal dunes by planting sea oats as a natural and sustainable way to protect the shoreline.
Being a Girl Scout has provided Sophia with many opportunities to serve the community. From volunteering at a horse shelter, cleaning up the stables, and helping provide a safe place to rescued horses, to regularly taking on the beach for cleanup with her Troop or family. From helping at a local food bank to weeding community gardens. She has also volunteered to plan camping trips for 150+ Girl Scouts. At her young age, she has contributed over 600 hours of service, being awarded the highest recognition a young adult can earn: The President’s Volunteer Service Award. For the past four years, she has received letters from the White House recognizing her volunteer work.
In her YouTube channel, Sharkz4lyfe, she regularly posts 1-min videos about sharks and ocean conservation in English and Spanish. A few weeks ago, thanks to a grant from the Women Divers Hall of Fame, she got certified as a Jr. PADI Advanced Open Water Diver. She will use this new skill to film her underwater adventures and continue educating young kids and inspiring them to become ocean advocates.
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Join Sophia:
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCd3AVbZ14msrFiq7EGpPQQA
Instagram: tiger_shark_sophia
