Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr
Freetown City Council Mayor, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr and Eugenia Kargbo were selected to be a part of the National Geographic 33 by National Geographic’s editors upon the recommendation of the magazine’s staff, contributors and members of the National Geographic community.
According to the a statement from the magazine, Freetown’s mayor and chief heat officer, respectively, Aki-Sawyerr and Kargbo were selected for their impressive efforts to protect their city from climate emergency.
The National Geographic on March 18th launched the National Geographic 33, a dynamic list honoring 33 extraordinary individuals whose imaginative ideas and unstoppable drive are making the world a better place.
From Hollywood heavyweights and fearless scientists to climate warriors and trailblazing entrepreneurs, National Geographic 33 highlights a wide range of innovators and icons whose work includes saving our winters to advocating for mental health and revolutionizing high fashion to make it more sustainable.
The release states that, in homage to the brand’s 33 founders—who, in 1888, saw an urgent need to deepen humanity’s understanding of the world and protection of the planet—the list celebrates a diverse group of 33 changemakers actively addressing this need today.
The inaugural National Geographic 33 class works across a range of fields, from botany to film to space, and has collectively raised and distributed millions for climate action, social equity, scientific research, humanitarian aid and more, among their other achievements.
Aki-Sawyerr and Kargbo’s fellow honorees include actor, advocate and entrepreneur Jason Momoa; actress, singer and philanthropist Selena Gomez; outdoor adventurer Pattie Gonia; professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones; and many more.
“For more than 137 years, National Geographic has been driven by the belief that bold thinking and collective action can change the world,” said Courteney Monroe, president, National Geographic Content. “Since then and across all our platforms, National Geographic has believed in the power of visual storytelling to spark curiosity and inspire a deeper connection to our world. National Geographic 33 represents an exciting milestone for us, as it embodies the very essence of our brand—sharing the stories of extraordinary individuals whose work is making a meaningful impact in the hope of inspiring others to help shape a better future.”
“With the National Geographic 33, we’re honoring a diverse group of changemakers, from all over the world and different walks of life, who aren’t just recognizing the urgent challenges of our time, they are taking action to address them,” said Nathan Lump, SVP and editor-in-chief of National Geographic. “In shining a light on them and their contributions, we hope to elevate their work and showcase to a wide audience the positive impact they’re making.”
About National Geographic Content
Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content’s award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu.
