THE EARTH PRIZE
2024 EDUCATOR
OF THE YEAR

Meet the five extraordinary teachers who have been shortlisted for the The Earth Prize 2024 Educator of the Year Award!

Each of these teachers was nominated by the students in recognition of the support provided during The Earth Prize competition, as well as for their dedication towards the education and the community.

Following the legacy of the original award, every year WEEC’s Secretary-General, Professor Mario Salomone, will select and announce the winner of The Earth Prize Educator of the Year Award and a $5000 prize at The Earth Prize Awards Ceremony.

THE WINNER

Aashna Saraf

CreatED - Mumbai, India

Aashna Saraf, a Harvard alum and the founder and CEO of an innovation hub CreatED in Mumbai, India, stands out as the youngest winner of the prestigious Schmidt Future Tools competition. She empowers students to ideate, create, and build groundbreaking projects with the potential to significantly better the world. Her leadership earned her a Harvard Education Entrepreneurship Fellowship.

Driven by a deep-rooted passion for sustainability, Aashna has guided her students in developing deep-tech solutions like carbon capture drones, early pollution detection systems, and off-grid sustainable power generators. These projects not only showcase her ability to turn visionary ideas into reality but also her commitment to addressing some of the most pressing environmental challenges. Last year she launched a denim upcycling initiative, transforming used denim into valuable accessories like tote bags, and in a pioneering move, partnered with a textile manufacturing company to repurpose denim for furniture textiles.

At her core, Aashna believes in unlocking the creative and problem-solving potential of her students, arming them with the skills necessary to enact real-world change. Her philosophy is grounded in the power of collaborative effort—uniting industries, educational bodies, and communities to spearhead sustainable development and forge a more green future.