YOUTH VOICES SHAPING THE FUTURE

Anjali is the co-founder of Me to Diary, where she creates cozy, non-judgmental spaces for youth to explore emotions and build community care.

With roots in life sciences and a heart in social change, she also works as a Youth Engagement and Partnership Lead with the Blue Ribbon Movement, driving youth-led environmental and civic action in Mumbai.

Her journey as a nature educator has taken her on 150+ nature walks, connecting people with green spaces and their inner world.

Anjali thrives on research and development, always curious to dig deeper, test ideas, and build products and creative frameworks. She’s passionate about weaving emotional well-being, environmental justice, and art into everyday life, and thrives in circles that value reflection, authenticity, and growth.

Ayomide Olude is a project manager who designs and implements development projects guided by principles of justice, human rights, and sustainability. She uses data and lived experiences to inform initiatives aligned with Sustainable Development Goals.

Ayomide is currently exploring the intersections between environment, intergenerational equity, and mental well-being through her work at The Eco-anxiety Africa Project.

David Ngure is a founder passionate about creating inclusive learning environments. With over 4 years of experience in community development, she integrates technology and creativity to enhance community engagement.

David has founded community programs that support underprivileged youth in accessing economic empowerment initiatives. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and is committed to lifelong learning. Outside of work, David enjoys exploring the outdoors and playing football.

Dorcas a climate activist based in Ukunda, Kenya, and the founder of Mazingira Pamoja Initiative, an organization committed to environmental conservation and community empowerment. She leads a mangrove restoration project in Funzi Island, working with 48 women to rehabilitate degraded coastal ecosystems and support sustainable livelihoods. She also runs the #KeepAGirlInSchool campaign, which promotes menstrual hygiene and advocates for girls’ education. As a consultant, she specializes in climate change and its connection to mental health in vulnerable communities. Dorcas is currently joining the Be Visioneers Fellowship to enhance her leadership skills and expand the impact of her community projects.

Eli is a socio-environmental justice activist from Harare, Zimbabwe. They are the Ambassador Program Coordinator for the African Climate Alliance where they equip youth across Africa with the tools to strengthen their confidence in their activist journeys. They have a passion for the intersection between the protection of biodiversity and decolonial thinking as a way of implementing the preservation of nature whilst emphasizing indigenous knowledge systems. They are also a Youth Steering Committee member of Project 90 by 2030’s Support Hub, playing a crucial role in articulating, cocreating and advancing the safety needs of the youth climate movement.

Germaine is a conservationist passionate about sustainable agriculture and community-led solutions to environmental challenges. With experience in public engagement, gender equity, and wildlife protection, she helps bridge the gap between people and nature.

Germaine has worked with organizations like Rwanda Green Fund, Biocoor and currently works at WCN, empowering communities to embrace waste sorting, end poaching, and build resilient livelihoods.

She also supports curriculum development for conservation education and lead community events that drive impact. Her work focuses on co-creating solutions that are inclusive, local, and lasting.

Hannah Mathenge is a conservationist and communicator who led the 2024 pilot phase of the East Africa Resilience Circle, empowering 14 youth across five countries to build peer-led support networks and strengthen emotional well-being.

She integrates climate resilience and adaptation into community workshops, using art and advocacy to help young people express Eco-anxiety and Climate Change/ Global Warming creatively and transform it into collective action. Her joyful energy and warm, inviting smile make every gathering feel like home.

Sudanese climate justice advocate and climate mobility researcher, with growing expertise in the ocean sector. Ishraq’s career is centered around building resilience in climate-vulnerable communities through inclusive, data-informed strategies. She is an ecosystem builder, supporting local efforts, innovations, and partnerships that advance nature-based solutions and sustainable development. With experience across Africa and the Middle East, she works at the intersection of climate security, migration, and blue economy. Passionate about decolonizing climate action, she brings a people-first approach to both global policy and grassroots impact.

Jackline Kinya Muriuki is a pan-African youth development strategist and leadership trainer with over 10 years of experience empowering young people across civic engagement, advocacy, and employability.

She currently serves as the National Youth Capacity Development Officer at Kenya Red Cross Society, where she leads national programs on youth governance, mental health, and digital innovation. Her work spans local and international platforms, including Ubuntu Leaders Academy, YALI, Together for a New Africa, ALX, and African Leadership Group.

Jackline blends her background in Economics and Statistics with Implementation Research (George Mason), and Leadership. She is also an entrepreneur, passionate about creating smart solutions that drive real impact.

Kit is a young activist and communicator from Norfolk, UK. She previously co-founded and ran Earthling Action, an online under 18 activism group, which focused on the intersectionality between movements in the UK, after feeling isolated as a young activist during lockdown. Now she is a BTO YAP member and member of UK Youth For Nature, as well as studying for A-levels. Her current interests lie in improving nature connection amongst young people, especially in the Broads National Park, and Solarpunk as a form of communicating radical optimism.

Leena Joshi is a climate activist, author, and social entrepreneur working at the intersection of sustainability, education, and creative storytelling. She is the founder of Climate Conservancy, an international nonprofit, and currently serves as CEO of the sustainable impact startup EcoVita. A TEDx Speaker, her work has been recognized by the United Nations, World Bank, and international media outlets. Leena has spoken at universities worldwide like Harvard, Oxford, and international conferences like New York Climate Week, COP climate summits, using both science and spoken word to mobilize action. She’s passionate about empowering youth to reclaim hope and reshape the future for our blue planet. She has authored two books including Ethereal and The Climate Awakening.

Lynn Ngoma is a Kenyan youth advocate and environmental champion who’s all about community, climate, and change. As the Executive Director and Co-Founder at Sustainable Jamii, she empowers young people and marginalized communities to lead in ecosystem restoration and climate action. Her projects focus on mangrove restoration; climate education and mental wellness rooted in local voices and sustainable impact. She believes storytelling is activism, and that joy and justice go hand in hand. Whether in muddy mangroves or on global platforms, Lynn shows up with heart and purpose.

Maksim is a singer/songwriter, strategist and Climate Café facilitator that’s become known for his unique storytelling and presence online. Inspired by his Indigenous background and years of supporting climate activists and creatives, he creates music and media that explore climate grief, emotional depth, and the human-nature relationship. After helping launch Force of Nature with Clover Hogan, he wrote and created content for Queer Brown Vegan before founding his own ventures, Animaksimism and Climate Cafe LA (now Climate Cafe Online). He’s currently developing projects that fuse pop culture, psychology, and ecological awareness into meaningful narratives.

Marla is a dance artist and facilitator working at the intersection of arts and climate justice. She strongly believes in the transformative power of the arts for climate action & social change, the importance of collective learning, and intentional spaces for creativity, connection and imagination. She’s a co-creator of the glanio collective – a collaboration of artists interweaving dance, music, science and visual art to explore ecological connection, the theory of emergence, collective care and co-creating responses to the climate and ecological emergency within the community. Socioecological justice, collective care & wellbeing are fundamental values within her practice, in performance, choreographing, public speaking and facilitating.
Marla has been engaged in climate communication and campaigning with organisations including the Climate Justice Coalition, Gentle Radical, and Equity for a Green New Deal. Marla also facilitates workshops for a range of arts organisations and creatives, exploring ecological consciousness in creative practice and the role of arts in the climate justice movement. Marla hosted a Resilience Circle in 2021 and feels deeply aligned with the Resilience Circle’s vision.
She finds joy and peace through dancing and walking in rural landscapes, writing, cooking wholesome meals with friends, and crafting.

Muliiika Deogratius is a dedicated Social Worker with a strong passion for promoting social justice and community well-being. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences from Makerere University, he brings over two years of experience in SGBV prevention, child protection, and project management. He thrives on empowering vulnerable populations through impactful interventions, financial literacy, and community engagement. His work with organizations like Bless a Child Foundation and Touch the Slum Charity Organization highlights his commitment to holistic development. Fluent in English and Luganda, he enjoys fostering collaboration, uplifting communities, and creating sustainable change for both people and the planet.

Muskan Lamba works at the intersection of climate, care, and emotional resilience. A multi-passionate person, she writes, makes mixed media art, and enjoys philosophizing about emotions, systems, and connection. She recently completed her MA thesis on climate anxiety among South Asian youth, focusing on vulnerable communities in India. Muskan co-chairs the Global Mental Health Action Network’s Child & Youth Working Group, is a youth advisor for the Being Initiative, and serves on the Youth Board of The Resilience Project. She also runs a peer-support group of ~80 Gen Z women rooted in emotional health and has co-facilitated resilience circles for young people experiencing climate anxiety and burnout.

Paulo Galvão, from Brazilian Amazon, is an indigenous, climate and socio-environmental activist and a student of International Relations at Unesp. He works with young people, the environment, climate, traditional peoples and communities, promoting climate, social and racial justice. He is coordinator of the socio-cultural project Voices of the Amazon and works in the area of Children and Nature at the Alana Institute.

Pimpichcha (pim-peach-cha) is a Thai and British youth climate activist and environmental science student at King’s College London. Her activism has consisted of creating bridges between generations, communities, professions, and the environment to mobilise for climate action through systems change thinking. As well as freelance she also volunteers and works with organisations such as Force of Nature and UK Youth Climate Coalition

Rayhaanah is a passionate advocate for people and the planet, with a career rooted in climate action, social equity, and education. With a postgraduate qualification in Sustainable Development, she is currently pursuing a Master’s in the Energy Transitions space. Through her work with organizations like the African Climate Alliance and SAIIA, she has helped shape youth-led climate policy and championed people-and-planet-centered approaches to Just Energy Transitions. Her social impact includes publishing a children’s book featured on BBC World Service and speaking publicly on climate change and mental health. As an international Board of Youth member, she ensures Global South perspectives are central to global climate solutions.

Shafic is a dedicated youth leader at his local church, empowering young people to realize their potential and drive positive change. Through mentorship and visionary leadership, he equips the next generation with critical life skills and a passion for community impact. Committed to both faith and sustainability, Shafic mobilizes collective action for environmental stewardship. His work reflects a deep belief in the power of youth to shape a brighter future for people and the planet. Driven by purpose, he fosters inclusive spaces where young leaders thrive

Shamim is an environmental activist and social scientist with a passion for fostering sustainable solutions & empowering communities. She is the founder of the Doors of Hope Foundation; dedicated to climate change education, ocean conservation, youth empowerment, and WASH initiatives in Tanzania.

Shamim also leads the Tanzania Ocean Climate Innovation Hub, endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade as part of the GEOS Program under Ocean Visions, which focuses on advancing innovative ocean climate solutions. Shamim also serves on the International Youth Advisory Committee of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she contributes to shaping international policies and promoting meaningful youth participation. She is also the founder of SUNWAVE Limited, a startup providing solar-powered ice machines as a service to small-scale fishers and sellers in Tanzania as a service, aiming to reduce post-harvest losses and improve livelihoods.

Shamim enjoys working with local communities and youth, and she finds great joy in organizing Climate Cafés spaces for dialogue that bring people closer to understanding and addressing the challenges facing our planet.

A budding social science researcher and youth worker with a decade of experience, Stephen holds a Masters in Global Development & Planning from University of Agder.

He volunteers at Intercultural Connections as events coordinator, a platform for youth from across the globe to engage in intercultural dialogue around SDGs.

Stephen works in a local health NGO in Kenya.

Steve is a passionate marine conservationist based in Mombasa, Kenya, whose work bridges marine conservation, climate advocacy, and mental health. As the founder of Youth Pawa, he leads an organization dedicated to restoring ecosystems and empowering local communities. Steve draws inspiration from tracking his impact, which fuels his drive and motivates those around him. When faced with challenges that test his resolve, he reflects on the profound differences his efforts will make for his community, the environment, and the ocean, pushing him to overcome obstacles with unwavering determination.

Zoë is an organiser, researcher, and facilitator, based in Brussels (BE). She is passionate about community-building and grassroots organising. With a background in Political Ecology, Degrowth, and Arts & Culture, Zoë has worked across various European climate justice movements, organising cultural initiatives, research and co-building political projects. She was a co-host for the 2024 resilience circles, with a circle focused on classism.

Zonne Groenberg is a freelance organiser and facilitator with a background in Crisis and Security Management. Their work focuses on community building, (climate) justice, and creating spaces for collective care and reflection. Amongst other things, Zonne co-organised the largest demonstration in the Netherlands in the past 20 years and volunteered as a co-host for TRP. She is passionate about creating environments where people feel safe, seen, and energised. Zonne brings structure, warmth, and an activist lens to everything they do.