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This is the perfect time for the youth to step forward !
From June 24- July 06th , 2024 participants of Cohort IV at the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ) have been immersed in a rigorous and transformative training program. The goal of NSSCJ-IV is to equip young climate advocates with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to drive effective climate action and promote climate justice on both local and global scales. Participants have navigated through various modules covering critical topics such as climate justice advocacy, sustainable development, community engagement, policy analysis, and strategic planning.
Cohort IV comprises 300 participants from 87 countries, bringing a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to the program. These participants are poised to become the next generation of climate justice leaders.
The fourth Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ) commenced with an international symposium on Climate Justice, drawing high-level dignitaries, government officials, diplomats, and hundreds of youths from 87 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and America. The symposium’s theme, “Igniting Youth Power for Enhanced Global Solidarity on Climate Justice,” set the stage for a pivotal event aimed at empowering the next generation of climate advocates. The symposium serves as an intergenerational platform where participants can share experiences, exchange perspectives, and collaboratively explore equitable and inclusive pathways to a low-carbon, climate-resilient future
During the process, alumni of past cohorts took the stage to share the impact of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice and the difference they are making in their communities by leading climate action. Ms. Shampi Anna and Mr. Tanui Dominic, both alumni of Cohort III, provided particularly inspiring insights. Shampi Anna, a Programs Coordinator at Eco Rafiki Africa, located in Moyale, Northeastern Kenya, uses storytelling and healing circles to address climate issues in Northern Kenya. “The training at NSSCJ opened my eyes to the power of narrative in driving change. By sharing our stories, we can connect on a deeper level and inspire collective action for environmental sustainability,” she shared. Shampi engages diverse stakeholders effectively, amplifying her advocacy work, which also includes championing environmental sustainability in digital communication through the National Coalition on Content Moderation and Freedom of Expression in the Social Media for Peace project.
Tanui Dominic, the chairperson of the Kobujoi Community Forest Association from Nandi County, highlighted his leadership journey and the profound impact of NSSCJ training. Since 2022, he has been a staunch advocate for sustainable forest conservation, collaborating with the Kenya Forest Service. “The training I received at NSSCJ equipped me with the skills and knowledge to effectively manage and lead our community forest initiatives. It has empowered us to create sustainable livelihoods and promote environmental stewardship,” Tanui noted. He spoke about the association’s success in engaging various user groups, particularly the bamboo farmers, who have benefited from technical capacity building in bamboo value addition. Their participation in significant events, like the 23rd East African Trade Fair in Bujumbura, Burundi, has provided valuable platforms for showcasing their work.
Dr. Mithika Mwenda emphasized the critical role of youth in the climate justice movement, noting the significant interest from applicants as a positive indicator of the youth’s readiness to tackle climate issues. “This is the perfect time for the youth to step forward and advocate for Climate Justice,” Dr. Mwenda said, highlighting the importance of young voices in driving climate action across Africa and beyond.
Since its inception in 2020, NSSCJ had produced over 1500 alumni who have become influential climate advocates. These alumni have secured roles in prominent climate organizations such as the African Group of Negotiators, the Commonwealth, and the United Nations. The fourth cohort aimed to further equip young climate advocates, activists, policymakers, and community leaders with the skills necessary to champion climate justice. Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary, State Department for Higher Education and Research, Ministry of Education, Kenya, commended the initiative for providing youth with a platform to engage in climate change dialogues. She stressed the essential role of education in fostering climate justice. “Education equips our young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to drive sustainable development and resilience,” Dr. Inyangala said. She described the Nairobi Summer School of Climate Justice as a “beacon of hope and a catalyst for change,” offering opportunities for learning, collaboration, and innovation.
Ayele Kabede, Programme Manager for SIDA, Regional Office, Africa, praised the youth attendees and underscored the importance of building their capacity in climate justice. He highlighted the focus of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) on fostering knowledge and capacity in climate justice and climate change. “The future belongs to the young generation,” Kabede said, emphasizing that decisions affecting the future should be made by and for the youth. He noted that discussions during the symposium would include preparations for COP29, set to take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, focusing on advancing the goals of the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement.
Compared to their grandparents, it is projected that a child born in 2021 will live through seven times as many heatwaves, nearly three times as many droughts, and twice as many wildfires. Yet these impacts are not felt equally, with young people living in developing countries most impacted. On the other hand, education systems around the world were not providing young people with the tools, mindsets, and skills they needed to mitigate and adapt to climate change, nor with spaces to raise their voices on the issue. In many places, children and youth were leading climate action despite, rather than because of, what was happening in classrooms and schools. In other words, education systems were, so far, fundamentally failing our children and youth on climate change.
The Nairobi Summer School of Climate Justice envisions a future where all young African people are equipped with the tools, mindsets, and skills to collectively mitigate the climate crisis, promote climate justice, and build resilience in the face of climate change. NSSCJ aims to help bring high-quality, locally rooted climate and environmental sustainability knowledge to young people. Seeking to equip young people with policy-tracking, communications, advocacy, and campaigning skills, the Nairobi Summer School of Climate Justice was the result of an initiative developed by the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance. This initiative, developed by PACJA, came as world leaders looked to build on the historic Paris Climate Change Agreement to curb global temperatures, which was signed at COP 21 in France. Over 350 young people from 87 countries in Africa were trained in Cohort IV, and more than 1000 students across all cohorts combined
