London – Nineteen-year-old Pascal from Uganda has won the Global Sustainability Award at the prestigious King’s Trust and TK Maxx and Homesense Awards, held at the iconic Royal Festival Hall in London.
The award, sponsored by Octopus Energy, recognises the most impactful sustainability initiatives by young people across the globe who have participated in King’s Trust programmes.
Ahead of the ceremony, Pascal had the rare honour of meeting His Majesty King Charles III during a private reception at Buckingham Palace, where this year’s winners were celebrated for their exceptional achievements.
Pascal was recognised for launching a successful plastic waste recycling initiative in Mabira, Uganda, after participating in the King’s Trust Enterprise Challenge Programme, delivered locally through the Asante Africa Foundation. His initiative transforms collected plastic waste into reusable household products such as flower bowls, water fountains, and dustbins, recycling up to 300 kilograms of waste every month and reducing plastic landfill waste in his community by a staggering 80%.
“My business started as a small idea to collect and recycle plastic, and I’m proud of the way it has grown,” Pascal said. “Taking care of the planet starts with small actions. Let’s go green starting right where we are.” “Pascal’s grassroots efforts are transforming his community.”
The award was presented by Verónica da Silva Duarte from Octopus Energy and Eric Collins, serial entrepreneur and television presenter. “We’re big believers in the power of local innovation to drive change,” Duarte said.
“That’s why it’s an honour to present this year’s Global Sustainability Award to Pascal — a brilliant young leader whose grassroots efforts are transforming his community in Uganda.”
“His work is inspiring the kind of scalable, community-driven impact the world urgently needs. As one of the world’s largest clean energy companies, we’re excited to support and learn from Pascal’s journey as we all strive for a brighter, greener future.”
Pascal’s journey began when he was deeply troubled by the growing piles of plastic waste choking his community. “I decided to join the programme after seeing the devastating impact of plastic waste in the environment,” Pascal recalls. “The Enterprise Challenge programme empowered me to turn my idea into reality. I have learned to lead, innovate and make a difference.”
The programme not only gave Pascal entrepreneurial skills but also helped him inspire a community-wide eco-movement, engaging schools, local councils, health departments, and volunteers in monthly clean-up activities. Half of his community now actively recycles waste, and his project has sparked environmental awareness at both institutional and grassroots levels.
“My initiative helps reduce waste, promote recycling and inspire sustainable practice,” Pascal said. “It’s inspiring to see the community come together. These skills helped me identify a challenge, come up with a solution, and implement it.”
Reflecting on his transformation from a concerned teen to a sustainability leader, Pascal credits the King’s Trust with giving him the tools to lead change: “These skills helped me identify a challenge around my community, come up with a solution, design and implement this initiative,” he said.
His leadership was on full display as one of his upcycled creations was brought to London and showcased at the private reception with His Majesty King Charles III.
This year’s King’s Trust Awards attracted high-profile guests including Amal and George Clooney, Charlotte Tilbury, Dame Joanna Lumley, DJ Cuppy, Joseph Fiennes, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who joined to celebrate young changemakers like Pascal.
As The King’s Trust International marks 10 years of global outreach, having supported over 100,000 young people across underserved communities, Pascal’s story stands as a shining example of what youth can achieve with the right support and inspiration.
