Young Guyanese environment advocates receive UNICEF grants for climate action projects

UNICEF Guyana in partnership with the Rights of the Child Commission (RCC) on Thursday awarded grants to a total of six young Guyanese to implement climate action projects as part of the entities’ Climate Changemakers Initiative.
This initiative comes ahead of World Children’s Day 2021, which is being observed under the theme, “A better future for every child”.
The projects, which were proposed, designed, and will be implemented by the six young Guyanese, range from engaging and raising awareness of climate change among young people on social media to mangrove restoration on the West Demerara, and monitoring and advocating for the protection of freshwater resources in the Rupununi.
“UNICEF is delighted to support this group of exceptional young Guyanese. We hope it is just the start of their climate action journey and will be an inspiration to other youth. At UNICEF, we recognise that the climate crisis is a child rights crisis and?we are committed to helping young people take action to protect the future of our planet,” UNICEF Deputy Country Representative, Irfan Akhtar related.

“When we enable children and young people as agents of change, there is an unparalleled opportunity to address the climate crisis both in the present – among their peers, households, and communities, and in the long term as these children become decision-makers,” Akhtar further posited.
The awardees are said to be among a larger group of young Guyanese who benefitted from training by climate and other experts under the Climate Changemakers Initiative. Subsequently, they submitted their proposals for climate action in their communities and following an evaluation, funding was awarded for selected projects.
These projects are Protection of Freshwater Resources in the South Rupununi, which was proposed by Dan Rudolph, Aquila Fernandes, and Jacintha Realine.
This project is expected to monitor, raise awareness and advocate for the protection of key freshwater sources in the South Rupununi; Youths for a Change, proposed by Shontay Hawker, involves youth in a Georgetown ward raising awareness and taking action to promote environmental sustainability; and Mangrove Restoration, proposed by Deopaul Somwaru.
This project aims to find a more efficient way of replanting mangroves which involves exploring the use of a pioneer species of grass to set the foundation for the growth of mangroves on mudflats on the West Demerara; and Ecospacegy which was proposed by Suphane Dash-Alleyne, with the main focus being the utilisation of social media to engage and raise awareness of climate change and its impacts with the main audience being Guyanese youth.
Meanwhile, Chairperson of the RCC, Aleema Nasir, stated “RCC is delighted and is privileged to once again partner with UNICEF in this worthwhile initiative of challenging our Climate Changemakers, who are also some of the Commission’s Child Rights Ambassadors, to actively engage in projects that will make a difference in their communities”.
“We are proud of the work they have put into developing their various projects and look forward to providing support during the execution of the same.”
Climate change is said to be one of the greatest threats facing this generation.
UNICEF and the RCC’s Climate Changemakers Initiative aims to strengthen youth participation in climate action.
An August 2021 UNICEF report, The Children’s Climate Risk Index (CCRI), found almost every child on earth is exposed to at least one climate and environmental hazard, such as heatwaves, cyclones, air pollution, flooding, and water scarcity.
Under this programme, Guyanese youth have benefitted from training in climate change, advocacy, diplomacy, life skills, and the use of digital platforms to improve their understanding of the climate crisis and increase participation in climate advocacy and action.