Disclaimer: This article is part of a collaboration with the Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial stance of the publication.

 

Our story takes place in Sargodha, a city in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It’s here that 24-year-old Iqra Noreen decided to make a difference.

 

As a little girl, Iqra was always the quiet type – preferring to listen more than to speak. Making friends was not easy for her. Although, she was a bright student and always did well in class, she struggled to fit in. Even with three elder brothers, she often felt a gap and really wished for a sister. Someone to laugh with, to share secrets with, to play pretend with after school.

 

That wish took the shape of a penguin.

 

One day, when Iqra was five, her mother came home with a soft, stuffed penguin. She named it DD. DD quickly became more than just a toy. She was a listener, a playmate, and a friend. Iqra talked to her, shared stories, played games that were made up and imagined everything she would do if she had a real sister. DD became Iqra's constant companion, and she took her everywhere.

 

 Even at the age of 20, Iqra still found comfort in opening up to DD, but people started to mock make fun of her. This became extremely disturbing for Iqra. 

 

At 24, when she came across the Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI), it sparked something in her. Pakistan Youth Leadership Initiative (PYLI) is a three-year project, led by British Council Pakistan in partnership with UNDP and WaterAid and co-funded by Qatar based Education Above All Foundation’s programme “Reach Out to All”. PYLI aims to train 90,000 youth from universities and communities in the Global Citizenship Education, leadership, and Climate Action curriculum.

 

Through a PYLI  training organised by the British Council and Muslim Hands, Iqra learnt about climate change, its impact on communities, and the role young people could play. She decided to use her unique story to connect with children by making DD the face of climate awareness.

 

Iqra developed a climate awareness storybook, with DD as the clever main character. The storybook aimed at school children, made a serious topic fun and engaging. Iqra and her team visited three schools, getting over 150 students involved in creative, interactive sessions. They told stories, sparked conversations, and made climate science feel incredibly real.

 

 

 

 After seeing how much the school children loved DD, Iqra took her campaign online to reach more people. She also organised a Climate Awareness Walk, rallying students and locals to join the cause. The walk was full of energy and DD walked with them, of course.

 

 

 

 

 

 From whispering secrets to DD to leading hundreds in a climate walk, Iqra’s story reminds us that the bonds we form in silence can echo the loudest when turned into purpose. That journey led her to a stage in Islamabad, where she received the prestigious Climate Champion Award from the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on January 28, 2025.

 

 

Pakistan ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide most affected by climate change and natural disasters. Programmes like PYLI reaffirm the British Council’s commitment to empowering youth as drivers of climate resilience and to nurturing their passion for building a more sustainable future.