Nissa Bek (24 | Tripoli, Libya) is leveraging the power of media to address the challenges of climate change. Seeing the impact of media during the pandemic led Nissa to consider ways through which it could be harnessed by activists for climate action. Because media has the power to mobilize people in large masses, she believes that using it to focus on climate, “we will be able to warn people about what’s coming and highlight coping strategies from around the globe, protect public interest and hold polluters accountable, promote necessary actions and finally play a role in climate policy formation.” So in 2017, Nissa founded Project Mulan to provide young people with a platform through which they advocate for climate solutions, educate the public about climate change, and hold major polluters accountable, while addressing other issues they're passionate about.

For youth under 18 years old, Project Mulan was a novel opportunity as it gave them the ability to make their voices heard and take action through service activities. By taking a youth-focused approach, Nissa has been able to engage youth as young as 8 to share their concerns through TV and as radio hosts, script writers, and podcasters. Youth have also been trained on delivering workshops about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, have launched petitions about issues they’re most passionate about, and some now work for leading media companies! As Project Mulan continues to inspire youth activists, Nissa is looking to pursue international law as a way to making lasting, sustainable change. She hopes to one day eliminate gaps in international law that allow polluters to get away with the harm they are causing, push for more legally binding climate agreements, and bring justice to communities most impacted by climate change.