Vinaya is a junior at Riverbend Academy in Ormond Beach, Florida. Vinaya and her family immigrated to America when she was two years old from their home country Sri Lanka. As an immigrant she always faced struggles and trial throughout her life, especially growing up in a community where her opinions were not welcome. In her freshman year of high school she began independent research on Immigration laws where she learned about climate refugees, which then helped her develop a new found passion for environmental activism. She now lives by the motto “”that by helping one cause you can help the others because of the intersectionality of it all.