Youth advocate for a Just Energy Transition for the Eastern Cape

The Presentation and Design workshop for youth in climate club host schools in the Eastern Cape hosted in October 2023 set out to promote solution-based thinking in addressing climate change and renewable energy opportunities. Part of this was the Just Energy Transition (JET) , a key topic that was explored during the workshops, where these climate champions engaged the topic in an array of exercises such as debates, pitch presentations, writing pieces as well as interviews in individual and group settings.

The youth from climate clubs in the Eastern Cape expanded on this topic by taking to media to express their views and perspectives on a JET for their province. These climate champs wrote articles that were submitted to local community newspapers and took to community radio to be part of interviews and discussions to share the youth’s voice on this movement.

This started with a trip to PE FM joined by two representatives from each climate club host school. Athimna Mhlophe and Luthando Somhlahlo (James Jolobe High School), Lihle Ncama and Lonwabo Nota (Lungiso High School), and Elam Gocini and Lelethu Msipa (Walmer High School) were broadcasted live on air to share their thoughts on the JET. The link to the radio interview can be found here.

From Gqeberha, Liyema Mnikina and Ima Breakfast from Walmer High School (both Grade 10), contributed their thoughts on a JET for the Eastern Cape province. This was later published digitally and in print in the PE Express. The full article can be read here. 

Similarly, Lihle Ncama (Grade 10), Lonwabo Nota and Siyavuya Rengqu (both Grade 9) from Lungiso High School collaborated on a piece for Humansdorp that was featured on Kouga Express. The insert can be found here.

The featured pieces are below for reference:

This is made possible by co-funding by the European Union, implemented in partnership with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, and presented by GreenCape.