Romaan Jawwad

Romaan (16), is from Pakistan. Growing up, Romaan witnessed sharp inequality firsthand — children her age often worked as domestic help instead of going to school. Her own education was only possible through scholarships that let her study at private institutions, a contrast that shaped her drive to help others.

Through her project Eco Shores, Romaan tackled climate justice by protecting the Indus River ecosystem that fishing communities depend on, reducing dolphin bycatch and promoting sustainable fishing. This work stabilized family livelihoods, easing the economic pressures that often push children out of school. Her efforts also enabled the first two fisherwomen in the community, strengthening women’s income and household agency, which in turn improved children’s access to education, nutrition, and safer living conditions.

In Sukkur, Romaan worked directly with around 1,000 community members through field visits, training, and distributing sustainable fishing nets. In Jhang, her initiatives reached about 4,000 people through workshops and community coordination. Her deforestation monitoring research also involved sustained work with the Bakrawal Indigenous community, impacting 300 to 400 people.

Romaan’s work shows how protecting the environment can also protect children’s futures..