Studies show that women are particularly vulnerable to the impact of climate change due to their greater dependency on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture, as well as higher levels of poverty and limited access to information. In The Gambia, a new generation of female educators and activists are fighting for a greener, fairer future.
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00:00Seen from above, this is increasingly what the Columbia looks like.
00:07Solar modules on roofs are no longer a rarity, but it is rarely women who install them.
00:13Fatun Jai is a pioneer in her field and wants to lead by example.
00:18Women can contribute in the fight of climate change because we are the energy users at home.
00:24For example, I will take an example of myself to become a solar installer because it's a men-dominated area.
00:31And then we believe that it's only men that can do it.
00:34And I said big no to that Fatun is a woman and she can do it.
00:38And also training more women on this will also help us to fight on climate change.
00:45And this is where she passes on Hannah Ledge.
00:49The solar installation training program both empowers the women and promotes renewable energy,
00:55helping communities combat climate change.
01:02This school plays a key role when you come to mitigation on climate change.
01:08One, we empower the local communities.
01:10Like for example, we equip them with the training, that's the skills that we have,
01:15that's renewable energy, for them not to use fossil fuel.
01:18Because we all know that what fossil fuel do to the climate change.
01:22We also train them to become a responsible person when you come to energy.
01:27Education is key to raising awareness of the effects of climate change
01:32and the need to care for the environment.
01:34It's never too early to start.
01:37I want to ask again, like I said, I'll be asking a lot of questions.
01:40What is climate change?
01:43Environmental activist Memo Najabi runs a special class in eco-education
01:48at this primary school in Abuko, near the capital of Banjiro.
01:53The students are eager to learn the basics.
01:56The climate issue or the environmental issue have become an emergency.
02:00But there's still a lot of gaps because they still do not really understand
02:03some of the problems and some of the issues.
02:06And at this stage, they should have been more prepared.
02:09So that is why us coming to do some of these extra sessions,
02:13it helps to bridge this gap for them.
02:16The class also looks after fruit trees in the school's courtyard.
02:21A lesson that teaches the students to act responsibly for future generations.
02:26If the trees are cared for properly,
02:29future students will enjoy more shade and get to harvest the fruit too.
02:33A larger scale tree planting project is underway on Banjil beach.
02:39Its driving force is Fatu Jeng, another key player in environmental activism in Degambia.
02:4514,000 palm and baobab trees are planted on the city's shoreline.
02:51If the sea rises from one metre, we will inundate.
02:56Banjil is a city that is very vulnerable to rising sea level.
02:59And trees like coconut and baobab trees are actually trees that are very important
03:03or very crucial in helping at least cope the coastal erosion.
03:07So the trees actually serve as a resistance or at least a barrier
03:11to actually help the city cope our challenge of rising sea level.
03:15Not too far away from the beach.
03:18In Bakao, women are also spearheading another eco-friendly project.
03:23Bakao Women's Garden is an agricultural cooperative
03:27that was established more than 30 years ago.
03:30Over the past years, the project has moved away from conventional methods
03:35towards organic farming.
03:37We cut out using chemicals because it destroys the products.
03:48Secondly, it reduces the fertility of the soil
03:52and increases the amount of salt in the soil.
03:55Now we use organic waste instead of chemicals.
03:59This organic granite waste was given to us by the Department of Agriculture
04:05and we use it with animal manure from our homes.
04:16The Women's Garden is a unique project that provides organic food
04:20and aims to educate people about the benefits of organic farming,
04:24highlighting the advantages for people and nature,
04:28as well as the key role played by women.
04:31Our means of sustenance and livelihood is dependent on the natural environment.
04:35So that means when climate disasters occur,
04:37our means of sustenance as women is actually going to be significantly affected.
04:41In addition to that, in our side of the world,
04:43we have seen how it's mainly a patriarchal society
04:47and women do not still have access or sufficient access to resources
04:52that will help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
04:54Even in terms of early warning system as well,
04:57the level of resource access is different.
05:00In terms of technology access, it's also different.
05:03Despite this inequality in many areas,
05:07women in the Gambia are on the forefront of building a more sustainable,
05:12environmentally responsible and resilient feature for the small country.
05:17They are making a big difference and hope to inspire others with their initiatives and ideas
05:25in every corner of the country and beyond.