Hand in Hand
Sugar Land, TX
2023, Junior, Poetry & Spoken Word
Climate Hero: Natalia Sali, One Child, One Tree
Up where the mosquitoes buzz,
Down where the roots crawl into the ground
Natalia Sali swings her arms to climb the trees
Basking in the mossy summer swamps
The Philippines, Sali’s home of hopes
Is a land of beauty
She admires the waterfalls along with her dad
And appreciates the crystal-clear rivers flowing so freely
Why? She wonders—
Why must we destroy the beauty around us
Why must the green turn to silver
When did construction trucks chew up our grand trees
Where did our national bird go?
Sali yearns to change the future
Her dream soon takes flight, a mission so bright
One Child, One Tree
Together as friends protecting the Philippines
She travels to schools and communities across the country
Inspiring young minds to plant mangroves
With hearts aligned to stop climate change
The power of unity sharing a breath of life
Mangroves lie between land and shore
They are the guardians of the coastline
An ecosystem providing food, shelter, and air
They are solid, steadfast
Even in the face of the ferocious waves
Shielding the lands and fragile creatures
Crucial for minimizing the severe effects of sea level rise
In the journey of reviving the earth
Sali sows passion in the hearts of children
Restoring the beauty, giving nature care
Sustaining the Earth, proud and fair
From urban streets to majestic lands
One Child, One Tree, hand in hand.
Reflection
Reflection
Learning about Natalia Sali’s journey helped me realize the beauty and fragility of our vast ecosystems. Specifically, she created the program “One Child, One Tree.” This initiative encourages each child to plant and care for a tree, fostering a sense of desire in youth to take action to help the environment. I found it admirable that Sali was able to create an empowering program to educate children and provide awareness for cultivating a sustainable planet for future generations. Along with providing education, Sali’s program also grows mangrove forests that help protect endangered animals and their habitats from extreme weather disasters caused by rising ocean temperatures. Inspired by Sali’s leadership, I have joined my neighbors in planting trees around our neighborhood, made donations to organizations like One Child, One Tree that strive to save our planet, and advocated to stop destroying mangroves on my Instagram account. Natalia Sali’s conservation efforts give hope to the coming generations to work together and ensure the preservation of our beautiful planet.