This World Environmental Day, we shine a light on the power of youth-led, community-rooted action. Across different corners of the world, young leaders are taking root in their communities, finding new ways to protect their land, their culture, and their future.
Meet three remarkable groups shaping a greener, fairer world through resilience, tradition, and innovation:
Together4Climate (T4C), Kenya 🌿
In the coastal community of Ganahola, Kenya, mangrove forests once stood as a natural shield against storms and drought. Years of deforestation left the land exposed — but local youth refused to stand by.
Together4Climate (T4C) is helping communities build resilience against climate hazards through education, advocacy, and blue carbon restoration projects. In 2024, they planted over 3,500 mangrove seedlings, breathing life back into the coastline and offering a sustainable, community-led response to desertification.
“In 2024, we planted over 3,500 new mangrove seedlings in Ganahola, Kenya, contributing to efforts to restore land and build resilience against desertification and drought.”
— Basil Angaga, Together4Climate
Learn more here.
Piatua Resiste, Ecuador 🌊
Deep in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the Piatua River is more than a waterway — it’s a lifeline for the Kichwa people. Piatua Resiste is a youth-led collective fighting to protect this sacred river and their cultural heritage against extractive industries.
Through art, storytelling, and intergenerational dialogue, they’re building a movement that merges environmental advocacy with cultural survival. By bringing together elders, artists, and young leaders, they’re pressuring authorities to legally recognize the Piatua River’s rights and safeguard it for future generations.
“Collaboration between local communities, artists, and youth is applying pressure on government bodies in the battle for legal recognition of the Piatua River.”
— Darling Kaniras, Piatua Resiste
Learn more here.
Group of Geographic Information System (G-SIG) | Timor-Leste 📡
In Timor-Leste, a country vulnerable to climate extremes, youth are harnessing technology to protect their future. G-SIG trains students and young leaders in geospatial mapping and environmental monitoring, turning data into action.
From flood-risk assessments to reforestation mapping, these young advocates are leading local resilience projects and bringing essential technical skills into their communities, classrooms, and governments.
“We train students and young people, equipping them with valuable technical skills. They have become advocates for environmental monitoring and technology use within their communities, schools, and universities.”
— Ponciano da Costa de Jesus, G-SIG
Learn more here.
A Shared Vision for Tomorrow
From Kenya’s mangrove coastlines to the forests of Ecuador and the hills of Timor-Leste, these youth-led movements remind us that climate action is local, collective, and unstoppable when rooted in community.
This Environmental Day, we celebrate their courage, creativity, and leadership.
Explore now.
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