Fiji Sun

BBC documents young climate change activist

- JENNIS NAIDU Edited by Ivamere Nataro AnneMary Raduva and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

After following her Twitter account and stumbling on her many mangrove planting initiative­s and campaigns,

BBC UK approached AnneMary Raduva for a documentar­y. AnneMary is a Year 11 student of St Joseph’s Secondary School in Suva, and is a climate change and environmen­tal activist.

The internatio­nal media company messaged her mother, Moria VilIsoni-Raduva, seeking permission to document the young activist’s journey.

“I was very blessed to have been chosen. When I heard that an internatio­nal media company was interested in me, I was really happy!” she said.

The BBC UK crew even joined AnneMary on a mangrove planting session last Saturday.

“We planted more than 3000 mangroves with 70 students inclusive of the former students, the students and the principal, Ms Lowe.

“BBC UK filmed everyone planting mangroves, following a coastal clean-up.”

The documentar­y will focus on her journey as a young activist and will be released at the end of March this year.

Meanwhile, AnneMary presented New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern one of her school’s tee-shirts during the Fijian Female Leaders luncheon hosted by Ms Ardern at the residence of the New Zealand High Commission­er, Jonathan Curr, on Wednesday.

“She held the tee-shirt, looked at the logo and she loved it. She said she loves the colour blue, and my heart went, yes,” AnneMary said. Ms Ardern advised AnneMary that it was never too young to be a leader.

 ?? Photo: Deptfo ??
Photo: Deptfo

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