Le Minh Chau Truong is a Youth Councilor and Advisory Member in local government in Düsseldorf, Germany. Since being elected in 2022 to the Düsseldorf Youth Council, she has represented 50,000 young people, ensuring their perspectives are included in local decision making. In this role, she contributes to the city’s sustainability strategies, serves as an advisory member of the Sustainability Board, and participates in several other municipal committees. A notable accomplishment during her current term was moderating a city-wide conference that brought together student representatives from across Düsseldorf to discuss pressing local issues and civic engagement. For her political and social commitment, she was awarded the School Hero prize by the Mayor of Düsseldorf in 2024.
Chau’s environmental journey began at the age of 10, when she founded Make A Change, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness about sustainability, climate protection, and ocean pollution. Together with her peers, she published educational articles and essays, produced videos, and delivered presentations in school to encourage her audience to reduce plastic waste and protect ecosystems.
Within her school community, Chau has consistently taken on leadership responsibilities. She serves as student body president, class representative for the Class of 2027, and is an active member of the student council and school conferences. Beyond these roles, she leads her business@school team, a competition run by the Boston Consulting Group. Her team focuses on analyzing the social and economic impact of an NGO and developing solution-oriented strategies that combine business skills with social and environmental goals.
Her international and political experiences further expand her perspective. She gained First-hand insight into policymaking through an internship at the German National Parliament, where she participated in parliamentary processes and explored how national policies are shaped. Through the Youth Council, Chau also took part in study trips abroad, including to Prague and Rotterdam.
In 2025, Chau was awarded a full scholarship to attend the Harvard University Pre-College Program, where she studied Speaking with Power, Passion and Purpose. This program strengthened her persuasive and impactful communication skills while allowing her to engage in dialogue with students from around the world.
Through all her leadership, environmental and political efforts, Chau remains deeply committed to building a just and sustainable future, with special attention to protecting the oceans as vital ecosystems for the planet. As a member of the Youth Advisory Council for World Ocean Day, Chau plans to use her experience in youth leadership, advocacy, and project development to amplify young voices for ocean protection. She looks forward to connecting her local initiatives in Germany with global networks and creating opportunities for young people to engage in meaningful action.