Abigail Klein Leichman
May 23, 2023, Updated May 31, 2023

Sharona Shnayder, the 23-year-old Israeli immigrant behind Tuesdays for Trash and a changemaker in ISRAEL21c’s Keep It Magniv environmental lifestyle brand for Gen Zs and millennials, was chosen as one of 15 Young Explorers by the National Geographic Society.

“Young Explorers are selected for their exceptional courage, leadership, and impact-driven solutions,” National Geographic explains.

Israeli named Young Explorer and Adidas Runners coach
Sharona Shnayder picking up trash at Adidas’ Run for the Oceans beach festival in Tel Aviv, May 2022. Photo by Yahav Trudler

“Ranging between the ages of 18 and 25, this diverse cohort represents 13 countries with each changemaker engaged in solution-focused ideas including scientific innovation, conservation, education, civic engagement, storytelling and more — all in an effort to break boundaries and overcome challenges within their communities.”

Over the past three years, Tuesdays for Trash cleanups in 40 countries have removed an estimated 30,000 pounds of garbage from beaches and other public spaces.

Shnayder also has been named the new sustainability coach for Adidas Runners, described as “an international community comprising people from different backgrounds and walks of life, united by a desire to become better: better runners, better athletes and, ultimately, better humans.”

What does this mean to Shnayder? “If you want to help save our planet you have to move,” she says. “Because when you move it creates an action and when that action is done together we scale change.”

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