Children’s engagement crucial for climate resilience

MWANZA: IN a bold move to prepare Tanzania’s youth for the looming storm of climate change, over 800 children at Magaka Primary School in Kahama Ward, Mwanza Region, have received climate resilience education.

This initiative is part of a larger community effort to protect future generations from the harmful impacts of climate change, a threat that looms larger every day.

According to a 2022 United Nations International Children’s Emergency (Fund) report, climate change is the biggest threat facing children and young people worldwide. It jeopardizes their health, nutrition, education, and their future prospects.

Children, in particular, are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, toxic chemicals, temperature fluctuations, and disease outbreaks. The climate crisis could also severely impact their mental health and overall well-being.

But Tanzania isn’t alone in this battle. Around the globe, regions like the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are already feeling the heat—literally.

The MENA region is warming faster than the global average, and by the end of this century, summer temperatures could rise by a shocking 4°C compared to pre-industrial times.

The situation is even more dire in certain parts of MENA, where combined heat and humidity could exceed human tolerance thresholds. This will likely cause desertification, dust storms, and increased health problems, especially for children.

To address this on the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza, local youth are stepping up in the fight for climate resilience. A case study is the Mwanza Youth and Children Network (MYCN), supported by the Danish government that has launched the “Climate Resilient Development for Children and Youth” project.

This initiative, which started in June 2024 and runs until May this year, focuses on empowering children at Lwanhima Secondary School and Magaka Primary School, among others, to spread awareness about climate change.

So, what exactly are these kids doing? For starters, they’ve been planting trees—lots of them.

According to Kahama Ward’s Community Development Officer (CDO), Mr Anthony Fortunatus, over 200 trees have been planted at Magaka Primary School as part of the climate resilience project. And it’s not just about planting trees.

Students are also getting hands-on education about the dangers of climate change, such as water scarcity, droughts, floods, food insecurity, and infrastructure damage.

Mr Fortunatus stressed that educating children about climate change and environmental protection is crucial because they are the ones who will face the brunt of these challenges in the coming decades.

“One of the key lessons we are teaching is that protecting the environment, particularly through tree planting, is one of the most effective ways to combat climate change,” he said, adding that the project team is composed of experts to ensure students gain a thorough understanding of these issues. It’s a lot of material, but the kids are learning fast, and they’re taking the message home.

Magaka Primary School’s head teacher, Mr Mshongo Mmbaga, couldn’t be prouder of the children’s involvement in tree planting. The school has even formed a special group of “environmental champions” who serve as role models for their peers, encouraging them to nurture the newly planted trees.

However, not everything is smooth sailing. Some unexpected challenges have cropped up. “Cattle have been a problem,” Mr Mmbaga explained.

Despite the school’s efforts and local government collaboration, some people have been allowing their cattle to trample over the young trees. But the community isn’t taking this lying down. There are now by-laws in place, and penalties—including fines—are being enforced against cattle owners who violate these rules.

Over in Lwanhima Ward, the efforts to combat climate change are also gaining momentum.

CDO Ms Rebeca Richard has been leading awareness campaigns to engage both schoolchildren and the broader community. One of the strategies has been promoting water harvesting systems in schools, ensuring that water resources are available year-round. The plan is to install underground water tanks—an affordable and effective way to collect rainwater.

Just this week, the tree planting efforts will expand to Lwanhima Secondary School, the only project beneficiary in the ward for now. This project will include the creation of tree nurseries within schools to give students a better understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship.

She also emphasized the formation of school clubs focused on climate resilience.

These clubs will not only raise awareness but will also encourage students to develop creative solutions to environmental issues. In fact, creativity is at the top of the priority list for the project’s organizers.

The aim is to engage as many people as possible, including local savings groups, in the fight against climate change.

MYCN’s Project Officer, Ms Nuru Masanja, shared that the project is set to benefit 3,545 individuals in two targeted districts. This will be achieved through direct engagement with 84 Junior Council members and 25 young reporters.

These young reporters will spread the word about climate change by sharing stories on various mainstream media outlets. The goal is to empower youth to become leaders in climate action and ensure their voices are heard in the climate discourse.

An essential part of the project is the strengthening of existing structures, like the Junior Councils, which are present at all governance levels in Tanzania. These councils serve as a platform for children and youth, aged 8 to 17, to participate in decision-making processes.

The Junior Councils collect children’s voices and opinions, helping to shape policies and legislation that affect their well-being.

MYCN is committed to ensuring that the voices of youth are incorporated into climate change adaptation plans, which will ultimately help create a more inclusive and effective response to climate change.

The project is also bridging a gap that the Devolution and Climate Change Adaptation Programme doesn’t cover.

By empowering local youth organizations like MYCN, the initiative ensures that climate change adaptation strategies are designed with the specific needs of young people in mind. As Ms Masanja pointed out, it’s not just about raising awareness; it’s about creating lasting, sustainable change at the grassroots level.

The ultimate goal of the project is to equip youth-focused organizations and Junior Councils with the knowledge they need to tackle the impacts of climate change in Mwanza Region. It also seeks to amplify this knowledge within the community, ensuring that everyone—from local leaders to schoolchildren—understands the importance of climate action.

As climate change continues to wreak havoc across the globe, Tanzania’s youth are showing they are more than capable of rising to the challenge.

Through initiatives like the MYCN project, young people are not only learning about climate change but are also becoming the driving force behind local adaptation efforts. In doing so, they are not only protecting their futures—they are ensuring that the fight against climate change is in safe hands.