Happy World Environment Day! We are recognizing amazing African women and girls who are tackling climate change, leading environmental movements, and helping to make the world a better place. See who is changing the game in sustainability!
Sira is a regenerative farmer and climate activist from the Senegalese village, Boulel. Three years ago, as a 19-year-old law student, she joined Trees for the Future, an organization that aims to transform the livelihoods of sub-Saharan African farmers. Specifically they train farmers in regenerative farming techniques and business skills. Sira has since risen the ranks to become one of their most prominent training technicians. She is currently helping 280 female farmers in the Kaffrine region and says in this Agrilinks interview that she believes “Regenerative agriculture remains the future of Africa.”
Vanessa is a 24-year-old climate justice activist from Kampala, Uganda who began her activism in late 2018 after noticing unusually high temperatures in her country. In early 2019, she protested for months outside of the Ugandan parliament building, urging politicians to take notice of the immense threat Africa is facing from climate change. Eventually, she gained support from peers and the attention of world leaders. She has since founded the Rise Up environmental movement as well as the Green Schools program, which has so far supported six schools in transitioning to solar energy (and eco-friendly stoves)! Vanessa has also spoken at notable climate conferences such as the 2020 World Economic Forum and this year’s Berlin Energy Transition Dialogue.
Autumn is a Nigerian-American fashion designer who makes colorful clothes, inspired by the bold African prints of her heritage. Her designs are made sustainably and she’s committed to both supporting female-owned production facilities and ensuring the global artisans who she works with are paid fairly. She only produces garments through pre-orders to minimize fabric waste and excessive manufacturing, making her collections environmentally friendly (and exclusive).
Mari is a 13-year-old philanthropist, activist and self-professed future president of the United States. She began her activism in 2016 when she wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, pleading with the government to pay attention to the water crisis in her hometown of Flint, Michigan. In 2018, after Michigan backed out of a free bottled water program for Flint residents, Mari helped crowdfund nearly $50,000 to provide clean drinking water to her neighbors. Mari has since expanded her efforts to help other communities across the US that are dealing with toxic water supplies.
Nicole is a Hatian-American fashion designer who makes genderless clothes out of recycled materials. For her commitment to environmentalism, she says: “Every decision I make serves as a motif of my commitment to sustainability. By sourcing recycled, alternative, and natural materials I am able to develop new products that push towards the elimination of environmental pollution. As a nod to circularity, I aim to protect our communities while simultaneously keeping in mind the way each design affects our environment as a whole.”
Wawa is a Kenyan-American environmental justice activist. She founded the Black Girl Environmentalist platform, which seeks to unite young Black women who are passionate about the environment. Her goal? To make climate activism more inclusive and beneficial to Black, Indegenous, and other racial minority communities. In an interview with The Canary, she shares that her motivation was the many instances in which she was “the only person of colour, not just the only Black person, in most environmental spaces.”
Jakapita is a 23-year-old Namibian communications student and climate justice activist. As a member of Fridays for Future Windhoek, she conducts community outreach, campaigns, and demonstrations to raise awareness of pressing environmental issues that affect the community. Most recently she has been campaigning to save the Okavango Delta from proposed fracking by Canadian petroleum company, ReconAfrica.
Elizabeth is a Kenyan climate activist and founder of the Green Generation Initiative. Having established a successful environmental club in her high school, she set up the Green Generation Initiative in 2016 to bring sustainable thinking to all Kenyan schools. So far, the initiative has planted over 3000 trees and Elizabeth has grown her environmental advocacy through her work as a campaigns manager at the Wanagri Maathai Foundation and coordinator at Daima Green Space.
Yola Mgogwana
Yola is a thirteen year-old South African environmental activist who mobilizes young people in Khayelitsha to fight for climate justice. In 2019, she began volunteering with the Earthchild Project which brings environmental education to communities and classrooms. She has since become a prominent spokesperson at schools in her region and has repeatedly called for government action on the very real consequences that climate change has on working-class Africans.
Leah is a 16-year-old climate justice activist from Uganda. She helped to establish the Ugandan branch of the Fridays for Future movement, which led to her first solo climate strikes in 2019. Leah has led several marches and campaigns and is a driving force behind Uganda’s plastic-ban petition. On her 15th birthday, she planted 200 trees instead of having a party and launched the Birthday Trees project which gives seedlings out to those who also wish to celebrate their birthdays by giving back to the planet. So cool!
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