from ocean conservation to equitable health-care access: meet the eureka fellows building a more sustainable future
the eureka fellowship for youth changemakers in canada champions young people working to build a healthier, more equitable future for people, society and the planet
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eureka fellow sylvia okonofua, founder of black donors save lives, is working to close racial gaps in canada's donor system by leading the country’s first black-led stem cell donor drive. tyler anderson
this story is sponsored by
astrazeneca canada
this story was created by content works, postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of a client.
sylvia okonofua was inspired to become a catalyst for change after learning just how dire the odds are for black patients in need of stem cell transplants. in canada, black patients of all ethnic backgrounds only have a 16 per cent chance of finding a matched donor compared to 75 per cent for caucasian patients of european descent.
motivated by the belief that technology can drive positive changes, artash nath founded you-oceans.com, a youth-led non-profit that uses artificial intelligence and open-source data to monitor endangered marine mammals and reduce underwater noise pollution that threatens ocean biodiversity.
while okonofua and nath are leading initiatives in very different fields, they are now united as recipients of this year’s eureka fellowship for youth changemakers in canada (eureka fellowship), a partnership between leading biopharmaceutical company, astrazeneca canada, and global children’s rights organization plan international canada.
a total of 10 young canadians, aged 18 to 30, have been selected as eureka fellows for their leadership in improving the health of people, society, and the planet by focusing on health equity, biodiversity, and climate action.
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driven by the systemic inequity she witnessed, okonofua founded black donors save lives (bdsl), a non-profit to engage black communities across canada about the importance of blood, organ, tissue and stem cell donations.
“it’s up to our generation to ask harder questions, push for better systems, and refuse to accept injustice as the status quo,” said okonofua, who also serves as bdsl’s executive director. “through black donors save lives, i’m working to address racial disparities in health care and build a future where the lives of historically marginalized communities are no longer overlooked but protected and prioritized.”
okonofua’s personal mission is part of a broader movement supported by initiatives like the eureka fellowship, which equips and empowers young leaders driving meaningful change in their communities and globally.
“we are committed to making a positive impact beyond our medicines and believe in the power of individuals to make a big difference when it comes to building a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable future,” said gaby bourbara, astrazeneca canada president. “through our partnership with plan international canada, we’re proud to champion 10 outstanding young changemakers who are leading positive change in their communities through the eureka fellowship.”
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okonofua, who is completing a master’s degree in public health from the university of toronto, plans to launch canada’s first national, black-led stem cell donor drive. with the support of the eureka fellowship, she will train 30 young people as donor care ambassadors and create a mentorship network that connects past donors with future ones.
passionate about racial justice and health equity, she hopes to engage at least 1,500 adults and young people and register 500 new black stem cell donors, ultimately creating stronger, more equitable health-care systems in canada and elsewhere.
“our partnership with astrazeneca canada not only equips youth with essential skills and networks but also gives them a platform to turn bold ideas into real-world solutions to support equality, drive progress, and strengthen the rights of girls here at home and globally,” said lindsay glassco, plan international canada president and ceo. “empowering young canadian changemakers to create meaningful and lasting impact is at the heart of our work.”
while some young changemakers are focused on advancing human rights and empowering communities, others are dedicated to protecting the natural world and the creatures we share it with.
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this includes marine mammals, who use specialized sounds to communicate with one another. however, commercial fishing, increased trade and other industrialized ocean activity contribute to noise pollution, which jeopardizes this biological need. an estimated 25 per cent of marine mammals are at risk of extinction because of this underwater noise pollution combined with other factors, including climate change and ocean acidification.
“our generation inherits both unprecedented tools and unprecedented responsibility. technology must be a force for solving intergenerational and interspecies challenges,” said nath, founder, you-oceans.com.
eureka fellow artash nath, founder of you-oceans.com, is harnessing ai and open-source marine data to protect endangered whales and reduce underwater noise pollution threatening ocean biodiversity. raul ariano
nath, who immigrated to canada from switzerland as a child, is motivated by a belief that science and technology should serve the public good, an idea formed by his childhood experiences in toronto’s public libraries and community centres.
now an undergraduate student at stanford university in california, his goal is to integrate marine noise data into youth health and education, making marine science more inclusive, civic-minded and youth-driven.
as a eureka fellow, he intends to launch an online course and open-access platform for the analysis of whale calls, with a plan to make marine monitoring more accessible for conservation groups seeking to protect endangered species.
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“as young leaders, it’s on us to shape a future that’s just, sustainable, and humane,” he said.
each fellow will receive $10,000 to support their project. in addition, astrazeneca canada and plan international canada will support their development as leaders through virtual workshops and capacity-building sessions over an 18-month period. fellows will also be invited to attend an in-person summit in 2026 and become part of the eureka fellowship alumni network.
to learn more about the eureka fellowship, including the full list of winners, go to eureka fellowship: youth changemakers in canada.
this story was created by healthing content works, healthing.ca’s commercial content division, on behalf of astrazeneca canada.
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