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{{short description|Malaika Vaz}}
{{Infobox person
| image =Malaika Vaz.jpg
| caption =
| name = Malaika Vaz
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|4|13}}
| birth_place = [[Saligao]], [[Goa]], [[India]]
| occupation = Athlete, Explorer, Environmentalist, Social Entrepreneur
| alma_mater = [[United World Colleges]]
| website =
}}
'''Malaika Vaz''' is a National Geographic Explorer, TV presenter and wildlife filmmaker from [[Goa]], [[India]].

In 2018, she presented the TV series ''On The Brink''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/literally-on-the-brink/article24734149.ece|title=Literally on the brink|date=2018-08-20|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> for [[Discovery Channel]] and [[Animal Planet]], that follows her journey exploring the many [[endangered species]] across India together with the stories of researchers and scientists involved in protecting them. She is currently working on an investigative documentary on the illegal trafficking of [[Manta ray|Manta Rays]] across [[Southeast Asia]]. As a National Geographic Explorer Malaika produced and presented a 3 part series on human-wildlife coexistence titled ''Living With Predators''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Malaika Vaz|url=https://www.jacksonwild.org/malaika-vaz.html|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Jackson Wild: Nature. Media. Impact.|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Narrain|first=Aparna|date=2019-10-25|title=Wildlife filmmaker Malaika Vaz on endangered species, Greta Thunberg and more|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/filmmaker-malaika-vaz-on-endangered-species-greta-thunberg-and-more/article29799092.ece|access-date=2020-07-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> that focuses on how local communities live alongside India's big cats.

==Personal life==
Malaika Vaz was born to Marusha Vaz and Mac Vaz, and has two younger brothers, Mikhail and Marc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://findall-goa.com/specials.php?pgid=65 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-12-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222075104/http://findall-goa.com/specials.php?pgid=65 |archive-date=2015-12-22 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As a competitive [[windsurfer]], sailor and [[Professional Association of Diving Instructors]] [[Divemaster]], she has developed a strong connection to the ocean and has witnessed the effects of unsustainable tourism on the [[Marine ecosystem]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/kids/riding-the-crest/article3931532.ece |title = Riding the crest|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 2012-09-24|last1 = Lal|first1 = Preeti Verma}}</ref>
This inspired her to campaign for ecological protection and work towards conserving India's natural resources through initiatives such as the [[Leave No Trace]] campaign,<ref>http://retailview.in/blog/woodland-launches-leave-no-trace-initiative/</ref> that reduced [[plastic pollution|plastic waste]] drastically at Asia's largest music festival [[Sunburn Festival|Sunburn]] held at [[Candolim]], [[Goa]], India. She is also an environmental activist who cares for India's big cats, some that are endangered.

==Education==
Malaika was educated at [[Sharada Mandir School]] in [[Goa]], and then represented India, along with students from 92 other countries, at [[UWC Mahindra College]], one of the 18 [[United World Colleges]] spread out across the world.

==Social work==
Through her non-profit organization Kriyā ([[Kriyā|meaning "deed" or "action"]] in [[Sanskrit]]), Malaika works to [[Women's empowerment|empower women]]; victims of [[sexual violence]] and disadvantaged teenage girls through adventure sport and [[outdoor education]].<ref name="indiatimes">{{cite web|title=Goan teen to train women to scale high peaks - The Times of India|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goan-teen-to-train-women-to-scale-high-peaks/articleshow/33874820.cms|accessdate=2015-12-11|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com}}</ref><ref name="navhindtimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/scaling-heights-to-better-lives/|title=Scaling heights to better lives|work=[[The Navhind Times]]|date=5 May 2015|accessdate=2015-12-16}}</ref><ref name="uwcmahindracollege">{{cite web|url=http://uwcmahindracollege.org/blog/kriya-for-nepal-climbing-for-earthquake-relief/|title=UWCMC Blog | Kriyā for Nepal: Climbing for Earthquake Relief|author=UWCMC Blog|publisher=uwcmahindracollege.org|accessdate=2015-12-16}}</ref>
Under Malaika's guidance, the Kriyā Ambassadors summited [[Stok Kangri]] and [[Lungser Kangri]] in the [[Indian Himalayas]] to raise money for the [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]] communities in the [[Khumbu district|Khumbu Valley]] who were devastated by the [[April 2015 Nepal earthquake]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/nepal-earthquake-students-to-climb-high-peaks-to-contribute-for-survivors-760703 | title=Nepal Earthquake: Students to Climb High Peaks to Contribute for Survivors}}</ref>

==Films==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Year
!Title
!Credit
!Genre
!Episodes
!Network
!Comments
|-
|2018
|''On The Brink''
|Presenter
|TV Series
|
|[[Discovery Channel]], [[Animal Planet (India)|Animal Planet]]
|
|-
|2016
|[[Waghoba: Provider, Destroyer, Deity]]<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.felis.in/Waghoba | title=Waghoba | Provider Destroyer Deity | Felis Creations}}</ref>
|Director / Presenter
|Wildlife Documentary
|
|
|
|-
|2009
|Spotlight with Malaika
|Presenter
|TV Series
|
|Herald Channel Network
|
|}

==Awards==
* 2018 National Youth Award winner<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/viral-and-trending/250118/a-seafaring-ray-of-hope-1.html|title=A seafaring ray of hope|date=2018-01-25|work=Deccan Chronicle|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en}}</ref>
*2016 State Youth Award, Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, [[Government of Goa]] for outstanding contribution in the field of social service.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/CONQUERER-OF-THE-BIG-WIDE-WORLD/125461.html|title=CONQUERER OF THE BIG WIDE WORLD|work=oHeraldo|access-date=2018-08-20|language=en}}</ref>
* 2016 [[National Geographic Society|National Geographic]] ROAR Talent bursary for [[Wildscreen Festival]] 2016<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Malaika-Vaz-bags-National-Geographic-talent-grant/articleshow/55123420.cms |title = Malaika Vaz bags National Geographic talent grant | Goa News - Times of India|website = [[The Times of India]]}}</ref>
* 2015 Young Environmentalist by Saevus Magazine.
* 2015 Brand Ambassador [[Woodland]]<ref>http://ambassadors.woodlandworldwide.com/ambassadors-photogallery/malaika-vaz-72.html{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="customerclick">{{cite web|url=http://customerclick.in/2015/12/09/brand-journey-from-footwear-to-outdoor-gear/|title=Brand journey from footwear to outdoor gear – Customer Click|publisher=customerclick.in|accessdate=2015-12-16}}</ref>
* 2012 Brand Ambassador [[Victorinox]].<ref name="indiatimes2">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Goa-teen-is-friend-of-Swiss-knife-company/articleshow/23126025.cms|title=Goa teen is 'friend' of Swiss knife company - The Times of India|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|accessdate=2015-12-11}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaz, Malaika}}
[[Category:Indian explorers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from North Goa district]]
[[Category:1997 births]]
[[Category:Businesswomen from Goa]]
[[Category:People educated at a United World College]]

Malaika Vaz - Revision history

UpdateBot at 17:31, 19 March 2022