Kyra didn’t wait for permission to start changing the world. As a Pentathlon athlete and founder of Better World Project in Singapore, she represents a growing wave of young people who have stopped asking when change will come and started making it happen themselves. This Earth Day, her story is a reminder that the most powerful environmental movements often begin not in boardrooms, but in the everyday decisions of ordinary people.
Earth Day, celebrated on 22 April each year, has grown from a 1970 grassroots movement into a global call for action. But awareness alone isn’t enough. Climate change, pollution, and fast fashion aren’t abstract threats they’re reshaping the lives of real communities right now. In Singapore alone, 68,000 tonnes of textile and leather waste were generated in 2023, yet only 2% of it was recycled a figure that makes Kyra’s work feel urgent, not optional.
Source: National Environment Agency (NEA) 2023 Waste and Recycling Statistics
The relevance of Earth Day continues to grow. Climate change, pollution, and unsustainable consumption are no longer things we only hear about, they are affecting people and communities in real and visible ways. his is where the role of young people becomes particularly significant. Across different regions and contexts, youth are stepping forward with new ideas, challenging existing approaches, and creating initiatives that reflect both local realities and global priorities. Their contributions demonstrate that meaningful change often begins at a smaller scale, but with the potential to expand through collective engagement.
At United Through Sports (UTS), this principle is embedded within its approach to youth development. By creating platforms that bring young people together through sport, education, and leadership opportunities, UTS supports the idea that young leaders are not only participants, but active contributors to shaping more sustainable and inclusive societies.
Kyra’s Story
The Better World Project started from a simple belief that young people shouldn’t have to wait to make a difference. Kyra explains:
“I realised that many of us care deeply about issues like the environment or social inclusion, but we often hesitate to take the first step. I wanted to create a platform that not only documents the initiatives I’m involved in, but also encourages others to take action in their own ways.”
In the past year alone, her platform has attracted new collaborators, volunteers, and youth-led offshoots evidence that a single person’s initiative can seed a wider movement.
“Change doesn’t come from one person doing everything perfectly, but from many people taking small, consistent actions.”
Kyra’s message is clear: start small, start now. But what does that actually look like?
Take action this Earth Day:
- Go through your wardrobe, identify 3 fast items you can swap or donate
- Follow and share a youth-led initiative like Better World Project
- Start a conversation today about sustainable habits in your community
- Sign up for a local cleanup or volunteer event near you
What’s Next FOR KYRA
Kyra’s most anticipated project is still ahead: an upcoming sustainability initiative focused specifically on fast fashion one of the most urgent issues facing her generation. With youth spending billions annually on disposable clothing, the initiative aims to shift habits through awareness, community challenges, and responsible consumption campaigns. Details are coming soon.
Looking further ahead, she hopes to build Better World Project into a collaborative umbrella that supports a wider range of youth-led causes “especially those that combine sustainability and inclusivity, because meaningful change often happens at the intersection of causes.”
Through its work with young leaders like Kyra, United Through Sports demonstrates how platforms that empower youth can turn awareness into action not just on Earth Day, but every day.
Looking ahead, her focus remains on collaboration and expanding the reach of youth-led initiatives, particularly at the intersection of sustainability and social impact:
“Looking ahead, I’m really excited about growing the Better World Project into a more collaborative platform. I hope to create more opportunities to work with other youth, organisations, and communities, and to support a wider range of initiatives. I’m especially interested in expanding projects that combine different areas, like sustainability and inclusivity, because I think meaningful change often happens at the intersection of causes. Ultimately, I’m looking forward to developing initiatives that not only create impact, but also bring people together in the process. I’m also currently working on an upcoming sustainability initiative focused on how youth can better manage and respond to fast fashion. It’s an issue that’s highly relevant to our generation, and I’m excited to explore ways we can raise awareness and encourage more responsible consumption habits.”
Her message for Earth Day reflects a broader theme that runs through both her work and the values promoted by UTS:
“My message would be that you don’t have to do something big to make a difference, you just have to start. Change doesn’t come from one person doing everything perfectly, but from many people taking small, consistent actions. Find something you care about, start where you are, and don’t be afraid to take initiative. Your actions, no matter how small they may seem, can inspire others and contribute to a larger movement towards a more sustainable future. Together, through these small steps, we can all play a part in creating a better world.”
The environment does not need a perfect plan. It needs people who are willing to start
Link to The Better World Project Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/betterworldpro_ject?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
