''E so’o le fau i le fau,’’ is an old Samoan proverb that describes how an individual strand can be weak, but when many are woven together, they create something resilient and enduring. I often think of this proverb when reflecting on youth-led climate action. Many young leaders begin as individual strands, passionate and resilient, yet they often describe feeling isolated, overworked, and facing limited resources.
This is not only anecdotal: studies show that youth-led groups continue to receive a limited share of climate funding, despite their critical role in climate action. YCFS, 2025
These dynamics are not only visible in research, but they also come through strongly in the peer exchange spaces we create with young climate leaders. In one of our peer-to-peer networking calls, we explored what self-care looks like in practice. One participant shared that burnout had become a constant part of their work, and that the idea of self-care felt unfamiliar in their context. They described an environment where the expectation is to keep going even when exhausted, rather than pause or step back.
What stayed with me was not only what was shared, but how quickly others responded. Several participants recognized the same pressures in their own work, and the conversation shifted into shared recognition and an acknowledgement that these experiences were not individual failings but widely felt realities. For many, it was the first time they had named this collectively.
Moments like this highlight the value of peer spaces in reducing isolation, and what we repeatedly see in practice. Wellbeing is often treated as secondary, when in reality it is central to how young leaders are able to sustain their work. For me, it reinforces the importance of ensuring that wellbeing is not treated as an add-on, but as part of how capacity strengthening support is designed. Support structures are most meaningful when they reflect lived realities and create space for reflection as well as action.
This is part of a broader shift on how support for youth-led climate leaders is being understood, from capacity building to capacity strengthening. Young leaders already bring deep expertise and lived knowledge of their communities and the crises they are navigating. In practice, what often becomes clear is that the need is not instruction from the outside, but reinforcement of what already exists, alongside spaces that allow connection with others facing similar realities. This highlights the need for an intersectional approach, as young leaders navigate social, economic, and ecological realities simultaneously, while funding and support structures too often treat these in isolation, making more holistic forms of support essential.
When we talk about supporting young leaders on the frontlines of the climate crisis, the question becomes: are we adding more strands, or weaving them into something stronger? This is where we need to rethink what capacity strengthening actually means. Too often, support is framed around structured workshops, training, or toolkits, which can feel transactional rather than transformative.
We understand support more holistically. Supporting young leaders means helping them build on their existing skills, grow confidence, strengthen connections, and nurture wellbeing. These are the foundations that allow youth-led organizations to continue doing meaningful work. Young climate leaders are navigating increasingly complex environments, from shrinking civic space to more frequent and intense climate disasters. Funding alone is not enough. Work cannot be sustained if the people leading it are overextended or left to manage organizational challenges without support. Investing in capacity strengthening builds strategic resilience, helping young leaders sustain their energy, adapt to challenges, and lead with confidence and clarity over time.
Our capacity strengthening work is guided by three interconnected pillars:
- Helping leaders connect with each other - Stronger leadership emerges when leaders are meaningfully connected. In practice, this involves engaging with young leaders one-on-one and offering a range of ways to meet and exchange with peers in ways that are accessible and inclusive. It also includes connecting them to opportunities and people within a wider ecosystem, helping to broaden access to support and collaboration.
- Hosting meaningful gatherings - One of the most consistent pieces of feedback from young leaders on the frontlines of the climate crisis is the importance of in-person convening, which is why this sits as a dedicated pillar. Rather than treating convenings as one-off events, they are designed as spaces that build trust and relationships over time. A first regional convening in Asia last year focused on community, collaboration, capacity strengthening, and wellbeing, with dedicated attention to mental health and emotional support.
- Collaborative skills strengthening - Alongside connection and convening, practical support is provided through workshops, peer exchanges, and one-on-one coaching. These sessions respond directly to priorities identified by grantee partners, from project management to storytelling. They are grounded in what young leaders say they need most, and also create space for intergenerational exchange, bringing together leaders at different stages of their journeys to share knowledge, strategies, and perspectives.
From the Asia Youth Climate Convening on how capacity strengthening works in practice
The impact of this approach is best reflected in the words of youth leaders transforming their communities worldwide.
On our first regional gathering in 2025, one participant reflected:
“The convening was not just merely theoretical, it was about relationship and trust building. There were many times I almost cried because of how sincere the convening was. For someone that came from an organization that perseveres amid militarization and state attacks, this experience is an opportunity that our organization will treasure by fostering better relationships beyond the convening.”
On the impact of coaching:
“After losing my job, coaching became a critical source of support. I have gained more self-esteem and have learned to prioritize my emotional and mental well-being. I also find myself becoming more resilient, with a clearer vision of what I want to achieve and how to shape my strategy for the future. Most importantly, I have started taking on more leadership activities and initiatives without hesitation, expanding my impact on a global scale.”
These reflections both affirm this work and push it to keep evolving. As capacity strengthening continues to develop, it is increasingly clear that language access is essential for meaningful participation, and that flexible reporting enables more diverse perspectives and deeper engagement. Regional context also matters deeply, and support must be shaped around the realities young leaders are working within. Most importantly, community building and wellbeing are not additional elements of strengthening leadership, but central to it.
Building on these learnings, we are strengthening convening work with youth-led groups in other regions through peer-to-peer support, piloting team coaching, and shifting from standalone workshops to longer-term learning series. This work is also shaping convenings in other regions, including Africa in 2026, as part of an ongoing effort to deepen connection, trust, and collaboration among young leaders. Alongside skills strengthening through peer learning and coaching, this creates space for leaders to respond to climate challenges with greater confidence and shared strategies. This continues to evolve as a living guide, shaped by youth leaders, regional contexts, and the wider climate ecosystem.
Supporting young climate leaders goes beyond funding projects; it is about helping people and communities grow stronger so they can lead effectively. This is a strategic choice, as strengthening these human and social foundations supports long-term climate action and justice, from community organizing to historic wins such as Pacific youth whose case helped shape the International Court of Justice’s landmark opinion on climate harm. Just as the fau (strands) become resilient when woven together, youth-led leadership becomes stronger when supported not only with resources, but with relationships, skills, and care. If we want lasting and equitable climate action, we must invest in weaving.