These 5 individuals are creating a better future for the world

We’re now living in one of the most uncertain times in history. Just over a year ago, the entire world came to a halt when Covid-19 hit. Working from home has become the new norm. A mask-free, pre-pandemic world has become a thing of the past. All these underscore how unsure we are of our future.

But this sense of uncertainty hasn’t stopped some of the world’s greatest talents from doing good. The efforts of five outstanding individuals have caught the attention of luxury watchmaker Rolex. They are: Felix Brooks-church, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, Rinzin Phunjok Lama, Gina Moseley and Luiz Rocha.

They have been handpicked by a 10-member jury and named Laureates of the Rolex Awards for Enterprise 2021. The awards programme was launched in 1976 to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the Oyster, the world’s first waterproof wristwatch.

It shines a spotlight on and provides funding to the Laureates whose breakthrough projects could help widen our knowledge about the world, safeguard our environment, and create a better future.

“Rolex has long recognised its responsibility to play a part in creating a sustainable planet, a Perpetual Planet,” said Arnaud Boetsch, Director of Communication and Image at Rolex.

“Rather than venturing into the unknown and discovering uncharted lands, the new breed of explorers is committed to protecting the planet. The five Laureates are prime examples of these guardians of the future.”

Find out more about each Laureate and the work they commit to, below.

Luiz Rocha

Credit: Rolex / Bart Michiels

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Luiz Rocha, from Brazil, works to explore and protect mesophotic coral reefs and their biodiversity in the Indian Ocean, and to strengthen conservation of these largely unknown ecosystems.

Luiz Rocha

Credit: Tane Sinclair-Taylor

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Gina Moseley

Credit: Rolex / Audoin Desforges

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Gina Moseley, from the United Kingdom, aims to lead the first expedition to explore the planet’s northernmost caves to improve our knowledge of climate change in the Arctic.

Gina Moseley

Credit: Robbie Shone

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Rinzin Phunjok Lama

Credit: Rolex / Raj Bhai Suwal

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Rinzin Phunjok Lama, from Nepal, works to protect the richly diverse ecosystems of the Trans-Himalayan region, home of iconic and globally threatened mammals, by involving local communities.

Rinzin Phunjok Lama

Credit: Tashi R. Ghale

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Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim

Credit: Rolex / Audoin Desforges

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Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, from Chad, uses indigenous peoples’ traditional knowledge to map natural resources and prevent climate conflicts in the Sahel.

Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim

Credit: Ami Vitale

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Felix Brooks-church

Credit: Rolex / Franck Gazzola

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Felix Brooks-church, from the United States, tackles malnutrition in Tanzania through equipping rural flour mills with a ‘dosifier’ machine, which adds critical micronutrients to fortify staple foods.

Felix Brooks-church

Credit: Leah Kidd

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