While youth/kids in most parts of the world have refused to be passive victims of the climate crisis, those in Buea and other parts of Cameroon continued to be worried and helpless, but not anymore! With the support of McGinnity Family Foundation (MFF) and Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), Voice of Nature (VoNat) has collaborated with Praise Baptist Academy to empower over 70 children in Buea-Cameroon for climate action. The youngsters are currently being guided to produce media arts tools that they will be using in the days ahead to advocate for climate justice.
Tata Precious, a 13-year-old young girl based in Bulu Village in Buea, South West Region of Cameroon is one of the children that has been taking part in the VoNat project to put community kids and youths in Buea on the front line of climate action and environmental sustainability since November 2023. She is currently involved in the media arts tools production sessions for climate justice advocacy. “I have written a song on the effects of climate change, and an open letter addressed to the Mayor of the Buea Municipality on some of the effects of climate change and how we can adapt to this change of climate,” she said.
Santity Cheah, a form 2 student based in Molyko-Buea is so happy that she now has a better understanding about climate change and its impacts, and the role she can play to fight against the crisis. She is also one of the children taking part in the media arts tools production for climate justice sessions. “I have learnt a lot about climate change and climate justice throughout this programme. This has inspired me to write a poem titled “Way back”. This poem is all about how the climate was before and how it has changed like a chameleon over the years,” she disclosed.
The youngsters will be using the media arts tools produced for a mass sensitization and advocacy campaign for climate justice. This campaign will be carried out using both the online and mainstream media.