Young people in Uganda are taking bold steps to fight climate change and help vulnerable communities across Africa. In a heartwarming initiative, groups of teenagers have launched a project to adopt and plant trees, while also working to support disabled people in Mozambique who face higher risks during floods and cyclones.
The campaign encourages schools and youth clubs across Uganda to plant thousands of trees every year as part of a reforestation drive.
“Every tree we plant is a promise for the future,” said 17-year-old Sarah Nakimuli, one of the youth leaders.
“We want to protect our environment and make sure our children grow up with clean air and safe land.”
The tree-planting effort is aimed at reducing deforestation, improving soil quality, and helping Uganda meet its climate targets under the Paris Agreement.
The same Ugandan youth network is also working with humanitarian groups in Mozambique to support disabled people, who often struggle to escape when floods or cyclones hit.
Volunteers are helping build accessible evacuation routes, distributing emergency kits, and raising awareness about disaster preparedness for people with mobility challenges.
“Climate disasters don’t affect everyone equally — disabled people are often the last to be rescued,” said Emmanuel Ssemanda, a youth volunteer.
“We want to change that by making sure they are safe and included in every evacuation plan.”
The initiative is supported by several African climate organizations and funded partly by international NGOs. Experts say projects like this are key to strengthening community resilience in the face of worsening climate disasters.
According to the United Nations, Africa is one of the most vulnerable continents to climate change impacts, with millions of people displaced by extreme weather events each year.
Uganda’s teenage climate champions hope their work will inspire other African youth to take similar action. They are also calling on governments to increase funding for climate education and disaster preparedness.
“Planting trees is just the start — we need stronger policies, better warning systems, and more investment in renewable energy,” Sarah added.
