Youth moving forward to fight the change
Looking around us, beyond borders, we are diverse. Language, religion, education, interest, skin color, hair, eyes, we are different. Yet there is one resource that brings us all together. We are all on one ‘ship’. Yes, we all share one earth, one planet; and at the moment our home is in danger.
We may not feel the full impact of these changes right now, but it is us the future generation that will have to put up with or work around the result of the current environment degradation. Being the highly vulnerable generation, the youth have now taken a stand to make a positive impact to fight the change, climate change. The British Council - International Climate Champions were first recruited in 2009 with just 5 champions, and in mid-2010 there was an increased participation with 12 champions being selected. Each International Climate Champion designs an innovative project which is practical and is implemented within their respective communities.
In order to ensure the sustainability of the projects in the future, International Climate Champions were recruited in 2012 as well, and there was a phenomenal increase with 23 applicants being selected.
On the 18th, 19th and 20th of May 2012, this group of youth with ideas as to how they could help protect the environment converged in Thulhiriya. The programme was organised by International Climate Champion of 2010, Joanne Kotelawala, along with the support of the British Council. The purpose of the program was to provide this group of youth with the skills and tools that will help make their project a success. A major component of the weekend training session was the project planning segment which helped participants to fine tune the details of their project plans. The group was also trained in qualities they would need to posses in working was volunteers within their respective communities. The entire event was facilitated by past Climate Champions Ashrifa Ali, Sikander Sabeer, Nilanke Panthearachchi, and Joanne Kotelawala; along with Aruthra Rajasingham. The team was greatly assisted by Ms. Thushara Gunasekara as well as Mr. Nimal Perera.
The sessions were addressed by leading professionals in the fields of research and innovation, energy and transport, conservation, social action projects, education and awareness and digital and social media; the sessions focussed on how each sector can contribute in the task of protecting the environment.
“Excellent two-day residential workshop. I got more energy to initiate my project after joining this. The teaching tools and methodologies were very different from what I have experienced before. It was really interesting and interactive and so I was able to grasp more information effectively and efficiently” Said Hasitha Priyashantha, a participant at the program. Another participant, Avanthi Kalansooriya added “This event has been a very educative one for me and it was extremely productive. The lectures by the 4 academics also gave us food for thought to spark our activities. You covered an array of topics that was essential for our future projects”. Nilanke Panthearachchi a facilitator at the event said “It was great to work with this group of youth and to share my knowledge with them. Their interest in accessing digital and social media as a way of raising awareness on environment issues is particularly exciting”
It is inspiring to see the climate champions team grow, with many innovative ideas being brought forth by youth to help con- serve the environment. So, there it is we are certainly set to hear and see more of these climate champions and their activities in the near future.
The writer, Joanne Kotelawala, is a British Council International Climate Champion of 2010, Active Citizen 2011 and a final year Bio- Chemistry student at Spectrum Institute of Science and Technology, the Outreach campus of the University of Mysore. Joanne organised the climate champions training program with the assistance of the British Council, as an initiative to empower youth to take action in safeguarding the environment.