Location: Nanjing, China
Role and Impact: Founder, BSN Guardians | Youth Conservation Leader | Defender of the Yangtze Finless Porpoise
“Aden speaks the language of hope, action, and compassion—for animals, for the Earth, and for his communities. He’s the future we dream of.” — The Trash Punx
Aden Xiao may live halfway across the world, but his heart beats for both the Yangtze River and his hometown of San Jose. As an 11th grader at the British School of Nanjing, Aden leads the BSN Guardians, a student-run conservation club with a bold mission: protect the Yangtze finless porpoise, one of the world’s most endangered aquatic mammals.
Inspired by a course through the BELL 2023 Alaska program, Aden crafted an action plan to clean up the Yangtze River. With the support of his school, he launched BSN Guardians, rallied students, created social media platforms, organized porpoise-watching tours and rescue drills, and even hosted awareness booths at school fairs. His club now actively works to raise awareness, reduce pollution, and advocate for this incredible species.
When The Trash Punx received Aden’s message asking to collaborate, we were moved—not only by his passion, but by the poetry of it. A student from San Jose reaching across the globe to protect his adopted home river? That’s what global stewardship looks like. His vision, creativity, and tenacity remind us why we believe in young people leading change.