Meet Nicolina Pappas, the teen who started sewing reusable straw pouches at 8, and raised over $15,000 to fight plastic pollution after 6 years

Pappas was deeply affected after seeing footage of a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose. According to the Barron Prize, the experience inspired her to switch to a reusable metal straw and sew a small cloth pouch to carry it. That simple idea soon grew into something bigger: she began making and selling additional pouches, using the money she raised to support conservation efforts.