Ever felt like you’re too young to make a difference in the world? Well, think again! Baran Fateminejad, a 9-year-old girl from Iran, is proving that age is just a number when it comes to pursuing your passions and making a positive impact on the environment and the world around you. Curious about how she became an ambassador for the environment at so young age? Let’s then meet Baran Fateminejad and find out more about her story!

Start Early and You’ll Become a Good Steward of the Environment

Baran’s interest in the environment began when she was barely five. Thanks to the teachings of her parents, she learn to “be kind to nature”, and, as she climbed the mountains, her natural impulse was to not only enjoy the panorama but also to clean the environment whenever she found pieces of plastic or cigarette filters.

Baran’s desire to see the natural world around her clean and healthy, determined her to adopt a proactive attitude, and to involve herself in varied campaigns aiming at the protection and conservation of the environment. Soon, she was to become the youngest environmental and sports ambassador of the Kettlebell Committee of Iran.

“I am the smallest mountaineer supporting the nature and environment of Iran, the smallest environmental ambassador, and the sports ambassador of the Kettlebell Committee of Iran. As a tourism ambassador, I started mountain climbing and cleaning, and nature tourism when I was five years old. I became interested in nature and tourism when I was very small because of the teachings my parents gave me. I learned to be kind to nature,” Baran shares and adds that last month, she was invited and participated in the World Environment Conference that was held in Estonia.

Identify Environmental Issues That Concern You

Baran is deeply concerned about varied environmental issues. She worries the most about global warming, plastic pollution, and endangered animal species. Baran thinks the first step in starting to make a difference in the world is figuring out what topics are vital to you. Every action counts, whether it’s lowering your plastic usage, saving water, or encouraging conservation.

“I am very worried about drought and global warming, but also about plastics, cigarette filters, and chewing gum because they don’t decompose in a natural environment and must remain in our nature for years and they harm it! I am worried about endangered animals that they are not taken care of well or they are destroyed due to accidents or neglect,” she confesses.

Baran has a straightforward message for children who want to get engaged and make a difference: We should treat planet Earth with the same respect we treat our own homes and take good care of it, and keep her clean.

She thinks that each and one of us can have a positive impact and play a role in safeguarding planet Earth if we all act conscious, take responsibility for our own behaviors, and attempt to foresee the ways our own actions may affect the natural environment.

“If we all think that we have only one land and one planet to live in and keep it like our own home and do not harm nature and its trees and animals and take care of resources like good water, we will be influential like a good human being,” Baran says.

Share the Beauty and Richness of Your Country with the World

Baran promotes the beauty of Iran as a tourist ambassador by traveling to many picturesque locations and writing articles about them. She recently had an article about Iran’s customs, culture, and natural beauty published in an Irish children’s magazine. She thinks that her country has a lot to offer and that kids should learn about and appreciate their own countries’ natural beauty, traditions, and cultures.

“As a tourism ambassador, I am constantly going to beautiful places and I am introducing them to the people of my country and the world, and last week my article about tourism and the environment was published in the children’s Canvas magazine of Ireland. I also wrote about Iran’s traditions, and about my city, Kermanshah,” she explains.

By playing traditional music on her tambourine and attempting to capture the beauty of her homeland in her paintings, Baran is also exploring and learning about Iranian culture.

“I do sports, go on nature tours with cleaning, paint, and play tambourine music because I’m interested in climbing and kettlebell sports, as well as the environment, tourism, painting, and our traditional music. All of this makes me happy. It makes me feel better because human abilities are many and it feels good to use all of your abilities. I have been successful in all my work so far. I paint in my free time and I have been selected several times for painting exhibitions abroad. I also love to play games. I think you can do any activity because we, humans, have infinite capacity,” she shares.

Spread Joy and Beauty Through Art

Aside from her environmental and tourism work as an ambassador, Baran is also a gifted self-taught artist. She uses “happy colors” when she paints and draws landscapes and portraits because she has the belief that art can make the world a more peaceful and beautiful place. Baran encourages all children to start using their art to celebrate nature’s splendor and make the world a better place.

”I didn’t have time to go to a painting class yet, but because I was interested, I learned drawing and painting at home. I mostly like drawing faces and painting nature and the environment. I draw most of my pictures with happy and diverse colors because I love life and happy colors in painting so much! I deeply believe that art brings peace. When a person is calm, he or she is happy and creates beauty,” Baran says.

Baran has encountered some obstacles while pursuing her artistic and environmental goals. She admits that she occasionally felt as though her work wasn’t being noticed or understood, but she persisted nonetheless. She thinks that you should “continue with strength and not despair” if you have a purpose and are doing what you love.

“My most important challenge was that during these few years, the important things I did, maybe I wasn’t seen as I should have been and no one understood, but I didn’t care because I had a goal and I was doing the things I was interested in. I did not think and I was not disappointed. So we should continue with strength and not despair,” she says.

Baran’s advice to young people everywhere is to love and cherish nature and treat our planet Earth with respect, by looking after its waters, forests, and animals. She also aims to motivate and inspire other children to pursue their passions and explore their talents. So let’s take a smart cue and learn from Baran to follow our hearts, uncover our creative voices, and try to change the world for the better!

“As an artist who loves nature, the environment, and tourism, I want all the children of the world to give life to nature with beautiful colors, and pay attention to the earth, water, and trees. I want them to see the beauty of my country, and my own city Kermanshah, which has unique ancient monuments, such as Taqbestan and Webistan. Life is beautiful, we should enjoy it and not forget to respect nature and take care of trees and animals. I want to thank the head of the Kettlebell Committee of my country Mrs. Farzaneh Namini, the Parav Mountaineering Club, my artist-teacher, Mrs. Alizadeh, and my music teacher, Mrs. Donya Shahidi, who always support and encourage me,” Baran adds.

If you’re curious to find out more about Baran’s art and activities, visit her Instagram account.

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