ChildFund Empowering Youth for Environmental Sustainability

ChildFund Ethiopia is a non-governmental organization dedicated to the welfare of youth and children in Ethiopia. ChildFund recognizes that young people are central to addressing the environmental crisis. As the generation most affected by environmental Crisis, youth also possess the creativity, energy, and innovation necessary to drive sustainable solutions for the impact of climate-induced disasters that affect the lives and livelihood of millions of people.
Among the recent challenges more vulnerable communities faced are the disastrous consequences of climate change like floods, erratic rainfall, drought, loss of biodiversity, environmental degradation, reduced agricultural productivity, food insecurity, water scarcity, and conflicts over natural resources that adversely affect vulnerable members of the communities, specially the youth and children.
Side by side with its commitments to improve the lives of most affected members of communities, ChildFund Ethiopia is also engaged in the arduous task of addressing emergency needs as well as implementing long-term livelihood improvement programs, targeting the youth and children in the context of unpleasant climate events in many localities of the country. ChildFund Ethiopia works on building knowledge, skills, and leadership among youth to take proactive roles in climate resilience, advocacy, and sustainable development.
ChildFund Ethiopia’s action plan focuses on environmental education and awareness among communities, strengthening school-based environmental protection programs, capacity-building training on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, environmentally friendly-entrepreneurship, tree planting, recycling, climate-friendly farming practices. ChildFund Ethiopia also supports the communities in natural resource manage, formation of child/youth climate & environment clubs and advocacy platforms that engage in local and national policy dialogues. Moreover, its action plan emphasizes on enhancing sustainable livelihood programs that have already proved effective strategies against adverse climatic conditions.
Based on ChildFund’s experience, this approach needs to consider at least 3 core elements
under its Livelihood Program. The 3 core elements include improving child and youth centric information and skills development, improving household livelihoods for economic and environmental resilience and taking a systems approach across communities to strengthen structure’s ability to support children and youth among the compounding crises.
There are practical examples that can be mentioned in this context. These are the integration of Environment and Climate Change Education (CCE) into school curricula and supporting the formation of school clubs. These clubs serve as platforms for children to learn, lead and disseminate climate knowledge within their communities.
These tasks are implemented through advocacy networks and training in natural resource management and climate-smart agriculture. In this process, the youth have become confident leaders, actively influencing policy and community practices by conducting training in green skills for youth.
These green skills include technical vocational, business and environmental awareness skills. These skills prepare the youth for eco-friendly job opportunities and promote self-employment because of which youth are now more proactive in seeking innovative and sustainable livelihoods in their communities. Speaking at the recent forum on 2nd Africa Climate Summit, the representative of the Child and Youth Forum from Ethiopia has emphasized the importance of climate solutions that focus on children and youth as well as on community initiative.