Nuha Danish & Inaya Zaidi
2026 Eco-Hero
FINALISTS
Nuha Danish & Inaya Zaidi
Ages 11 & 15
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
WeGrow: Youth-Led Sustainable Gardening and Food Security
Nuha Danish
Inaya Zaidi
Sisters Nuha Danish and Inaya Zaidi co-founded WeGrow in 2020 to teach their community how to grow organic food at home during the pandemic. What began as simple online gardening tutorials has evolved into a comprehensive sustainability initiative combining school gardening programs, hands-on workshops, and produce donation drives. Adapting to local regulations and the region's extreme heat, the duo integrated hydroponics into after-school programs, enabling students to cultivate food efficiently year-round.
Through WeGrow, Nuha and Inaya have led plant sales, composting workshops and waste collection drives. When their own harvests exceed household needs, they donate the surplus vegetables to local workers and families in need, benefiting over 200 people. They also organized a national Earth Day competition in collaboration with the sustainability enterprise Goumbook, inviting UAE students to design sustainable cities for 2050. Beyond gardening, both sisters published books, established literacy programs and actively advocate for climate action across the region.
"Starting in your own backyard shows how local action, multiplied by many people, can create real impact. We want to empower everyone to grow their own food, care for the planet and build a more sustainable future."
