One hundred and twenty (120) climate youth leaders selected across Africa and Asia participated in the 2024 Earthshot Prize Youth Leadership Programme, held in Cape Town – and I was one of them! As a Capetonian, I was thrilled to share my home with young people from across these continents. My knowledge of Cape Town proved invaluable over the five-day programme as I took on the role of tour guide as we visited Signal Hill and the bustling yet beautiful CBD. In true Cape Town fashion, the infamous windy weather cautioned us against the idea of exploring Table Mountain, but this did not weather the experience.


So, what is the Youth Leadership Programme? The Youth Leadership Programme forms part of the events leading up to the Earthshot Prize Awards. We participated in a well-curated programme organised by The Earthshot Prize team and Common Purpose. The Earthshot Prize award seeks to find and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges through five Earthshots: Protect and Restore Nature; Clean Our Air; Revive Our Oceans; Build a Waste-Free World; and Fix Our Climate. By supporting environmental innovators, activists, leaders, and dreamers, the Prize aims to reach these ambitious goals by 2030.

This ambition was evident throughout the programme. Young people with remarkable ideas and solutions gathered to connect and exchange perspectives. Through panel discussions with world leaders, policymakers, activists, Earthshot Prize finalists, and corporate representatives, we engaged in meaningful conversations about the youth’s role in climate solutions. We also participated in various workshops to build skills like storytelling, emphasizing its power in driving meaningful change by shifting mindsets and behaviour. Throughout the week, I forged connections with changemakers from around the world.
Reflecting personally, I realized the incredible power of storytelling and how it can amplify the impact of our work and inspire action. As an environmental educator, I have interacted with people from diverse backgrounds and been struck by the depth of indigenous knowledge they hold. The storytelling workshop reminded me of the importance of sharing stories through our own perspectives and lived experiences, as well as the potential in blending indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches to address climate challenges. This workshop has empowered me to tell the stories of my ancestors and those I encounter in my work.

A highlight of the programme was attending The Earthshot Prize Awards. Witnessing the incredible solutions presented by the finalists and seeing them receive their awards was deeply inspiring and reignited my passion. Being among 120 ambitious young leaders who are paving their own paths was an unforgettable experience. Every conversation with these leaders was transformative, reminding me of the shared responsibility we hold in the fight against climate change.
To every young person striving to change the world: your voice matters, and you are made for this.
Written by: Sesethu Jelwana