Raising Young Soldiers for Climate Change Advocacy

Abstract

This study examined the transformative potential of empowering children as climate change advocates, in line with the IFLA 2025 theme of "Uniting Knowledge, Building the Future." In light of the growing environmental crises, it is critical to raise a generation that is steadfastly committed to sustainability. The aim of the study was to raise "young soldiers" for climate change advocacy by fostering early environmental protection awareness and equipping future climate action leaders with the necessary skills. The participants of the study were made up of 51 children, three external partners and one community leader. Data was collected through participant observation and interviews with children, community leader and external partners using an in-depth qualitative analysis. The main findings include that humans are the causes of our climate problems and we can reduce these climate changes by not burning our waste, rather we recycle and reuse them again for other purposes. Children will help to mitigate climate change by planting trees everywhere. A strategic recommendation then is that children should be made climate change advocates. So the collaboration was to assist these children to know the relevance of mitigating climate change in their communities.

Keywords: Climate Change, Advocacy, Young Soldiers