Empowering Youth for Climate Justice

Bridging the gap in Climate Action through Powershifting and Youth Resourcing.

Did you miss the Leadership Lab? Learn more about the key takeaways from the session! 

WHAT WAS THE SESSION ABOUT?

Youth, as a dynamic and influential demographic, plays a vital role in shaping the future of climate action. Their energy, passion, and innovative ideas are key drivers for progress. However, there remains a significant gap between their potential and their actual involvement in decision-making processes, resource allocation, and leadership positions. This leadership lab aimed to bridge this gap by equipping youth with the tools, knowledge, and resources they need to become effective advocates for climate justice.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  •  Young people need to come together and synergize efforts towards climate action and taking up spaces in climate change decision-making spaces.

  • Africa Climate Change Summit provided an opportunity for African countries to reflect together and have one unique voice. Africa needs to be a key player and a decision-maker in the global space in addressing climate change.

  • There is a need for young people to claim their spaces in climate action to showcase their talents and equally be given opportunities to showcase new climate technologies that can address African problems.

  • Young people need to push for the decolonization of climate financing and advocate for more financing channelled to Africa; with a need for regulating restrictive funding requirements to ease accessibility by young people.

  • It is important to amplify the voices of young people by incorporating them in various climate action activities, programs, and initiatives to meaningfully participate in promoting climate justice.

  • There is a need to work with young people to enhance accountability, inclusivity, capacity building, and fresh perspectives in addressing climate change.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SESSION

1. To empower youth leaders with the knowledge and skills required to drive climate justice initiatives at local, national, and continental levels.

2. To facilitate a deeper understanding of the Nairobi Declaration and its implications for climate action, particularly in the African context.

3. To foster collaboration and networking among youth leaders, organizations, and stakeholders dedicated to climate justice.

4. To explore innovative approaches to resource mobilization and youth-led climate projects.

5. To create a platform for youth voices to be heard and integrated into decision-making processes related to climate policy and action.

MODERATOR

Darren Namatovu

Darren is a 24-year-old founding Executive Director of the Phoenix Children Foundation, a youth-centred nonprofit organization founded in 2020 to transform the lives of Ugandan children by advancing their fundamental rights.

Her work focuses on community building and philanthropy, particularly in the areas of child rights policy and advocacy, youth leadership and governance, and human rights and democracy. She also works on environmental policies and research, with an emphasis on renewable energy.

She is an Oxford School of Climate Change scholar and a climate justice fellow with 350.org International as well Young Rotarian with the Rotary International She is a member of the Democracy Moves network, together for a New Africa, the Commonwealth Youth Peace Ambassadors Network, and the Politics for Unity Movement Africa, as well as the East African and National Youth Parliaments and You Lead Africa alumni.

Additionally, she is a communication consultant, writer, public speaker, and events moderator.

SPEAKERS OF SESSION

Malak Barakat Ahmad

Malak Barakat Ahmad, “Next Generation Engineering Club project coordinator at Hikaya Center for Civil Society Development. Occupies a senior level; at the Engineering Faculty- Renewable Energy Department at Philadelphia University.

Through hands-on and practice, Malak has developed a leading project addressing solar energy and its relation to young people competition throughout Jordanian University, the project is projected through the Next Gen Club at Hikaya Center, which focuses on university students and young engineer’s capacity-building and skills development and enhancement.

She is driven by her passion for success, which led her to focus on Leadership skills. “Technology and engineering are both main tools to develop new ways to address environmental and energy challenges,” she believes.

Collins Kudakwashe Shava

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Midlands State University, a Master’s in Public Policy and Governance from Africa University, and a postgraduate Bachelor of Social Science with Special Honors in Monitoring and Evaluation from Lupane State University.

He is currently studying for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of South Africa. In his professional career, he has worked for the Zimbabwe Council of Churches. Asa Program Assistant. He has also worked as an Executive Secretary for Youth at the All-Africa Conference of Churches, a faith-based continental non-governmental organization where Churches are working together for life, peace, justice, and dignity in Africa.

He is currently working for a conservation organization in Zimbabwe. He is an avid blogger and a researcher on climate change and environmental issues. He has been working with Churches and faith-based institutions to advance climate and environmental justice issues.

Nesly Josephine Melvina

She is a representative of the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) and is currently a fifth-year student studying project management.

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