She Swam for the Ocean and Helped Create Change, Meet 2026 Action for Nature's Eco-Hero Lily Niederhofer
At just 11 years old, Lily Valentina Niederhofer has already shown what can happen when a young person decides to turn something they care about into action. The competitive swimmer from Almancil, Portugal, has been named 2nd Place Winner of the 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards, presented by Action for Nature an organization that celebrates young people who are creating meaningful solutions to environmental challenges.
Lily's journey began with a simple interest in octopuses. As she learned more about them, she became concerned about plans for an industrial octopus farm in the Canary Islands. Instead of simply sharing her concerns, she began looking for ways to make a difference.
Lily turned to something she knew well: swimming. At nine, she began training for open-water swimming, despite having no previous experience. In May 2024, she completed a 2-kilometer swim in the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal's Algarve coast and raised more than $12,000 for Compassion in World Farming. But she didn't stop there, during a family trip through the United States, Lily asked her parents to change their route so she could meet lawmakers and speak about octopus farming. She later continued her advocacy through written and remote testimony in the U.S. and Europe. Her efforts became part of a much larger movement, and one major victory followed: Nueva Pescanova abandoned plans for an octopus farming facility in the Canary Islands.
For Lily, the lesson is simple: you don't have to wait until you're older to make your voice count. Lily is now helping other young people find their own paths to action. She co-founded Generation Blue and Hero Kids, works to expand ocean education, and mentors young people from different countries as they develop environmental projects of their own.
Her story is exactly the kind of youth leadership that We Save The World believes in.
A child doesn't need to have everything figured out before making a difference. Sometimes, all it takes is a cause they care about, a skill they already have, and the courage to take the first step. Lily found hers in the water. Her message to other young people is one worth remembering: "use what you love to protect what you love"
Watch her story here https://youtu.be/PBcJvlj7UpE
Lily's Instagram
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