Mya-Rose Craig

Case Study

How would you like to be described?

As a young naturalist, conservationist, environmentalist, activist and leader.

How would you describe what you do?

 I try to save our planet, everything on it and connect people of all ethnicities with nature so that they want to do the same. I believe that getting people from all backgrounds fighting for the environment is the only way that we will succeed. 

What is your greatest achievement?

 Being the youngest to do some things: 

At 17, I was the youngest person in the world to be awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc. h.c) by Bristol University which was incredible. I also became the youngest person to see half the bird species of the world.

What was the cause or ’trigger for this journey of making the world a better place through being useful and kind? And how old were you? When did you realise you could make a difference?

My parents took me birding from when I was born and my older sister was an important role model as she looked like me. As a family, we took part in a BBC Four documentary: Twitchers: A Very British Obsession and when it was broadcast there were lots of positive comments but also huge numbers of negative comments on a birding chat site. My parents made sure that I didn't know about the negative comments, so what I saw was the huge impact that I could have, even at 7.

I went to Ecuador birding for 4 weeks, visiting the Amazon and meeting indigenous peoples which had a massive impact on me. In 2012, after six months of racist bullying by half my class, my parents took me to South America for six months and I met lots of indigenous peoples which helped me to understand some of their issues and solutions. I started a blog when I was 11 and that was when I was aware that I could make a difference from my writing, making people aware of issues and the action they can take.

 Was it something your parents are/would have been proud of and encouraged? 

My parents and sister are very supportive and proud of me and have become more engaged themselves in conservation. They have helped with me with my camps, conferences and events.

Who or what were your early influences?

 Other than my sister who was a passionate birder, my earliest nature influence was Steve Backshall who presented CBBC Deadly Sixty. I loved the programme so much that I watched all the episodes lots of times. When I was 10 I saw Steve live and took his advice to heart - which was to study hard and become a scientist, learn outdoor skills through scouts and guides and learn all about nature. I have done all three. My sister who was a passionate birder also had a big influence on me, keeping me interested and focussed on birds.

What were you doing at 16?

When I was 16 years old I took my GCSE's, went out birding a lot, and got my bird ringing licence (the youngest age possible). I ran camps for disadvantaged children and teenagers, did lots of talks and workshops, wrote articles, gave interviews and made a TV documentary about the decline of farmland bird species. I also spent a month in Kenya with school working with and understanding a local community there as well as putting solar panels into Massai huts. I spent my long summer birding in East Africa and Madagascar, a trip of a lifetime. Despite my exams, it was a fantastic year.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

Care less about what people at school or on the internet say and do and be more fearless.

What advice would you give to other young people?

With the right help you can do anything you put your mind to. Reach out to anyone who might help you. If you don't have anyone to support you then get in contact with me and I will find someone who can help.

What has been the most difficult challenge on the way and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge for me, throughout, has been racism. Racism, racism, racism. Directly, at school and the internet but more hidden and insidious from conservation organisations. It is hard to overcome because as soon as I raise it, I'm told it's sour grapes or my fault in some way. In the end, I overcame racism because a professor at Bristol University believed in me and he suggested me for an honorary doctorate, which has given me a lot of respect. However, despite this, racism and prejudice continues but I will continue to challenge organisations on equality.

What do you think are the changes we need to see in the world and how can being U&K help solve those things? 

We need our society to change so that everyone has an equal chance of success, no matter what their background. U&K can help to resolve this issue by promoting its vision of care, compassion, empathy, equality and fairness.

How are you useful and kind to yourself - what helps and hinders?

I have learnt to be kind to myself by understanding that I have a value and not allowing others to devalue me. For example, I get a lot of abuse on Twitter. It is easy to tackle if a stranger as I can simply block them. However, sometimes it might be someone I know well (always a white person) who tries to silence me. This is harder to tackle but I have learnt to have the courage to block them too. However, this is hard when a group of people "gang up on me" making it harder to tackle. I find it easier to be useful, as I am able to use my social media for that.

How are you both useful and kind to others (the easy ones and those who are more difficult to be U&K to)?

I read a lot and am always doing research. When I find out something new, something that is negatively impacting people, then I feel compelled to write and talk about it, to highlight their plight so that they have the care, compassion, fairness etc that they deserve. I find it harder to feel compassion for those on the far right, such as EDL members. However, despite this, I take the time to talk to the EDL members at my school and make friends, as I believe by being a friend, this will hopefully make them rethink their views.

What is your biggest challenge in the future?

 My biggest challenge is how to become part of the accepted "conservation and environmental" establishment whilst still being challenging and achieving change in terms of equality.

What do you wish you had done differently?

 I wish that I had been more challenging of conservation organisations and the system when I was repeatedly overlooked and ignored, as my "Black" face didn't fit.