Young people start climate projects worldwide

Watch Hannas message to the leaders at the climate conference in Brazil:

The Eco Champions program provides workshops and funding to support young people. The program's goal is to strengthen climate initiatives in the Global South, particularly for girls and young women. In Jordan, Uganda, Nigeria, Namibia, Somalia, and Sierra Leone, SOS Children's Villages invited young people to apply for the program. Those selected will attend a week-long summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where they will further develop their own climate projects or initiate new ones.

SOS Children's Villages is committed to gender-sensitive youth participation. Applicants were invited to submit proposals for projects, small businesses, or advocacy groups dedicated to addressing climate-related challenges in their communities.

These young people participated in the Eco Champions program:

Of the over 450 young people aged 16 to 26 who applied to become Eco Champions, 25 were selected. These young individuals, many of whom had never left their own country or community, participated in the Eco Champions Summit in Kenya at the end of 2024. There, they discussed and refined their projects, learning how to promote their climate initiatives. For one year, they will receive financial support and mentoring from SOS Children's Villages to help them professionally implement and expand their activities in their communities.

Many of the participants came from rural areas and have first-hand experience of climate change. The projects submitted by the young people range from waste prevention, educational work in their communities, to climate change mitigation.

Young women especially encouraged

The call for applications was particularly aimed at young women and girls because the climate crisis exacerbates gender inequalities. Women, especially in rural areas of the Global South, often have less access to resources and decision-making power.
The Eco Champions are not just for this year: the summit will be held again next year - with new participants from other countries and regions of the Global South. The aim is to spread the initiatives and ensure their long-term sustainability.