Scots schoolgirl named on Time magazine first Girls of the Year list

A Scottish schoolgirl has been named in Time magazine’s first-ever Girls of the Year list after designing a solar-powered blanket for homeless people.

Rebecca Young, from Glasgow, was aged just 11 when she came up with the idea after becoming concerned about people sleeping on the streets during a freezing Scottish winter.

Now 12, she has been named alongside nine other girls from around the world all recognised as being young leaders inspiring communities, as part of a list aimed at celebrating and empowering girls.

The Kelvinside Academy pupil described it as “cool and very unexpected” to be among those named, adding: “I’m honoured by the fact they wanted to include me on their Girls of the Year list and hope other kids see it and decide to do their part in helping people.”

Rebecca has been turned into a LEGO mini-figure Supplied

In January, Rebecca triumphed over 70,000 entrants to take home the MacRobert Commendation Medal in the UK Primary Engineer competition.

Her design has resulted in 30 of the blankets being manufactured and distributed to a homeless shelter in Glasgow, with plans to make more.

‘In my wildest dreams I’d never imagined being in this position’
Rebecca Young, 12

She and eight of the other girls are featured as part of a limited-edition animated Time cover – reimagined as Lego minifigures, with each character aimed at capturing the spirit of their achievements.

“I was stunned when I found out. I can’t believe I am one of the first Time Girls of the Year. It’s simply incredible”, she said.

In January, Rebecca triumphed over 70,000 entrants to take home the MacRobert Commendation Medal in the UK Primary Engineer competition. Kelvinside Academy

“To be named alongside nine other girls who have achieved so much is one of the most special experiences of my life.

“In my wildest dreams I’d never imagined being in this position when I came up with the design. I’m most proud of how the idea is now helping homeless people in real life – which was my inspiration all along – and I hope this can help shine a brighter light on an issue we should all care deeply about.”

Time chief executive Jessica Sibley said the list features girls aged between 12 and 17 who are “shaping their communities with courage and purpose”.

Twelve-year-old Rebecca Young is one of the Time Girls of the Year. TIMES/LEGO Group

The collaboration followed a recent study by the Lego group of more than 32,000 parents and children across 21 countries which found 70% of young women struggle to see themselves as someone who is good at building things.

It also found that children were twice as likely to credit major inventions to men – with most believing that wifi (69%) and the Moon landing software (68%) were invented by men, even though they were pioneered by women.

Rebecca’s mum Louise, 49, said the whole family was “over the moon” with her daughter’s achievement.

Rebecca Young with a Thales Engineer and the solar powered blanket prototype. Story Shop

“The attention Rebecca has received since she won the Primary Engineer prize is unbelievable, and we’re all so proud of her,” she said.

“She was just 11 when she designed the blanket, and already she’s decided she wants to follow a different path – and we couldn’t be more supportive.

“Even at just 12, she’s already made such an impact, and we know she can do the same in whatever she goes on to achieve. The most important thing is she’s happy – and following her passions is how she’ll achieve that.”