Private Story
Sam Brian Kiseka
“Greta Thunberg was an inspiration to my climate change awakening, but the rubbish surrounding Kampala and the severe heat also played a significant impact," Grace explained. Planting trees, raising awareness about climate change, sustainable solutions, and the role children can and should play in climate change mitigation are all issues she is keen to discuss.
Together with her brother Razak, Grace travels extensively to preach to potential converts to her cause. During their school breaks, they operate a project which involves making briquettes and distributing them to others in the community to encourage the replacement of firewood and charcoal for cooking. Among Grace’s future plans is an eco-educational app for young people, drawing on her brother’s coding skills.
Due to the effects of climate change, millions of children are already facing hunger, displacement, disease, and conflict. Children in the world’s poorest communities are the most vulnerable. Children, the future generation who will inherit the Earth and suffer the generational injustices of climate change, should be allowed to be more active in environmental discussions and action. They must not wait to be invited - they must seize the initiative and find ways to meaningfully engage and be included in decision-making.
Studies suggest that, on balance, children often know more about climate change issues than their parents or grandparents. This is because these issues are increasingly being taught in schools and because children are accessing environmental information online. Children can influence climate change policy-making, but they can also be good environmental educators to help adults to understand the challenge we all face. The Little Earth Soldiers show us one way this can be done.
298
