About Koru

Our mission is simple: to empower and connect youth from around the world through environmental writing.

No matter where you are in the world – from flooding in Venice to wildfires in California – climate change is here, and it’s here now. The teenagers of today will be the climate leaders of tomorrow, and here at Koru, we want to give these youth a place to expand their voices before reaching bigger stages. Through the universal languages of art and creativity, we hope to cultivate a community founded on the shared ideals of environmental consciousness and care for our natural world.

The koru represents the unfurling frond of a fern, also known as a fiddlehead. Its name is derived from the Maori word for “coil”. This shape symbolizes life, growth, and strength: a frond that both perpetually expands and yet simultaneously maintains its point of origin. Like the koru, we hope to strengthen and nurture the next generation of compassionate environmentalists by providing a platform for them to unfurl their voices, one story at a time.

Koru is entirely youth-led, and is thus dedicated to uplifting the voices of other teenagers in the environmental movement. Our leadership has been involved in numerous youth-centered environmental stewardship projects and partnerships, and has had writing and artwork recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the New York Times, and more.