ZANZIBAR: THE United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has launched a sustainable education programme, Young People for Climate Action, aimed at imparting knowledge and raising awareness among children to enable their active participation in mitigating the effects of climate change on the island.
Speaking to government officials, invited participants and students from Chunga Primary and Tumekuja Secondary Schools during a recent event, UNICEF Representative Laxmi Bhawani highlighted the significant impact of climate change on human life, particularly children. She noted that rising temperatures and environmental changes exacerbate the prevalence and severity of diseases in children.
“We involve children in addressing climate change because it is crucial to instill awareness and understanding of global warming in young people. This equips them to mitigate and prevent climate change from the grassroots level,” Ms Bhawani remarked.
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On the island, she noted, the effects of climate change are evident in rising sea levels, increased temperatures and altered lifestyles, all of which heighten the risks of diseases like malaria due to flooding.
“We are empowering and equipping youths with the knowledge and skills to address climate change effectively and find sustainable solutions for the future,” she added.
The Director of Education in the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, Ms Asia Iddi Issa, emphasised the importance of sustaining treeplanting initiatives through youth clubs. This, she stated, would help young people at the grassroots level develop a deeper understanding of climate change and its effects.
“We should promote discussions on climate change in local communities, on the streets and in debate clubs. This will encourage young people to consider the impacts of global warming and the critical role of tree planting in mitigating the threats posed to our communities,” Ms Issa noted.
UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Officer, Marko Msambazi, shared insights into the programme’s practical components, which focus on empowering young people with technical skills to counter the repercussions of climate change in their daily lives.
“At Chunga Primary School, we planted trees and demonstrated their functions and importance, such as oxygen production and other factors that support social development,” Mr Msambazi explained.
He added that, beyond tree planting, UNICEF is also running a programme to recycle plastic bags and other waste materials into useful products, providing alternative solutions to waste management challenges.
