Youth and Children to Lead Climate Action Debates under CEJ’s She Rise Campaign
The Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) has emphasised the need to elevate the voices of women, youth, and children in climate action.
Speaking at an event marking the launch of the She Rise Campaign, CEJ Youth and Children Programme Coordinator, Dalitso Mvula, revealed that the organisation has partnered with youth-led group World Changers Zambia to host school debates, starting with Munali Secondary School in Lusaka.
Mvula explained that the initiative forms part of the Resilient Woman for Climate Action and Environmental Justice Project, supported by the Carter Centre Foundation in Lufwanyama District, Copperbelt Province.
She noted that climate change is not merely a scientific phenomenon but a lived reality impacting communities, with children walking long distances to fetch water, missing school due to floods, and families being displaced.
At the same function, World Changers Zambia Executive Director Felix Neba stressed that climate change affects everyone and must be addressed urgently, particularly by youth who will lead climate efforts in the coming decade.
He said the debates would tackle issues affecting both young and old, including climate change, mental health, and leadership, and highlighted the rising cases of depression and anxiety among young people.
Neba called on parents and mentors to provide guidance and support, asserting that the discussions aim to inspire new perspectives on environmental issues.
Meanwhile, University of Zambia Students’ Union (UNZASU) Vice President Jemimah Mwaba urged young people to embrace self-awareness, stating that true leadership is defined by character, not titles.
She encouraged students to plan for the future, set goals, and believe in their potential, noting her own aspiration to become Zambia’s first female president.
Mwaba called on students to open their minds, write down their visions, and reflect on the leaders they want to become.
