It’s not every day that we hear about an author that’s younger than some of our wardrobe essentials, but it just goes to show that age hardly matters when it comes to passion.
More and more, younger generations are turning their focus toward the environment. Greta Thunberg for one, was just 15 when she became a well-known activist. Now, a Durban-local is making his own mark (and encouraging others to reduce theirs on the planet) at just 11 years old.
Romario Valentine, a local from Umhlanga has recently penned a book: Protect our Planet – Take action with Romario.
To appreciate his writings a little more, you should probably know that Romario isn’t an environmental preacher. His words might be published, but his actions have spoken louder than most.
@ArtistRomario/Twitter
A small human making a big impact
Most kids might spend their free time playing, visiting friends or navigating the world of being a tiny human – the usual. Romario however, spent his Durban childhood doing beach clean-ups (well over 200), tree planting and avian art, as Penguin Random House shares.
A small human making a big impact! As GoodThingsGuy shares, Romario raised R55 000 for bird species in Durban and the Western Cape. He also conducted a campaign focused on abandoned Grey Parrots at Birds of Eden in Plettenberg Bay, which raised enough funds for a bird sanctuary that now has 3500 endangered birds flying freely in what is now the world’s largest free-flight aviary.
He even dedicated his 10th birthday to planting hundreds of trees. If dedication was a person, it’s Romario, and the best part is that this is just the beginning for him, and all the change he’ll undoubtedly inspire further.
An Orca role inspired a whole world for Romario
In an interview with YOU, Romario shared that he was to play an Orca in a school play. On researching his role, he discovered the species was endangered. This got him thinking about making the seascape safer, and so his weekly beach clean-ups began.
About the book
The young writer shared “I’m officially an author” on Twitter, before giving people a sneak peek inside the book.
My 📖 arrived today! 🧡💚
PROTECT OUR PLANET – TAKE ACTION WITH ROMARIO #ChildAuthor @ Amazon, Wordsworth, Takealot, Loot, Exclusive, Barnes & Noble USA #StruikNature #PenguinRandomHouse
STEM Education #biomimicry #pollution #ewaste #renewableenergy plus+ pic.twitter.com/2qeeEmJtol— Romario Valentine (@ArtistRomario) September 5, 2022
The academic work is set to cover all things environment loving and understanding – from the importance of clean water to types of pollution and humans’ relationship with the environment. Its topics are in line with the Foundation Phase curriculum, aimed at kids (and people) who want to know more about their power in helping the environment, especially in South Africa, a country that should appreciate nature’s big role in our lives a lot more than we sometimes do.
Find Romario’s book via Penguin Random House.
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