ChildFund Papua New Guinea (PNG) recently trained 22 youths as climate champions who will promote positive community responses to the risks of climate change.
The training was made possible with the support of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Pacific-American Climate Fund (PACAM).
The youths came from 12 villages and were selected by their own communities. They were trained on the concept of climate change, climate change effects and adaptation and how they can help formulate community action plans for their respective villages.
At the end of the four-day training, the participants were able to explain the causes and effects of climate change as well as link it to current conditions in their communities, particularly the prolonged drought. To further build the youths’ confidence as climate champions, ChildFund PNG will provide follow-up mentoring and coaching.
The training is part of USAID’s adaptive, resilient and productive agriculture project in Papua New Guinea, which is promoting climate-smart agriculture. The project will also help improve the local food security of 12 climate-vulnerable communities in Rigo district, Central Province, PNG.
Through PACAM’s grant of $496,045 (K1,595,000), ChildFund PNG will enhance indigenous farming practices, introduce new soil and water management techniques and promote resilient varieties of local crops.
Leveraging ChildFund’s track record of empowering youth, the project is also enlisting young people as climate change champions promoting positive community responses to the risks and vulnerabilities brought about by the changing climate.
U.S. Ambassador Catherine Ebert-Gray has stated that the United States Government is committed to helping Pacific Island countries weather the challenge of climate change, a challenge that both the United States and Papua New Guinea share, at this crucial time.
“The adaptive, resilient and productive agriculture project is just one of the climate change adaptation initiatives we’re supporting through the Pacific-American Climate Fund in Papua New Guinea,” Ambassador Ebert-Gray added.
USAID’s PACAM is a key initiative of the U.S. Government to support Pacific countries to identify, develop and implement local solutions to climate change adaptation that also make global contributions.
PACAM assists 12 Pacific Island countries to reduce long-term vulnerabilities associated with climate change by awarding grants to civil society organisations in support of climate change adaptation measures.
(The new climate champions will promote positive community responses to the risks of climate change in their villages. Picture courtesy of ChildFund)