Speaker: Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
How (and why) are you taking action on climate change solutions in, for, and with your community?
Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton: Good day, everyone. My name is Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton. I'm 13 years old from River State, Nigeria. I'm passionate about raising awareness about climate change, environmental degradation and environmental justice because of the harsh environmental reality faced by the people living in River State and because nature has been kind to so we should reciprocate that love. I spread more awareness about climate change by providing climate education to the younger generation. Being Gen Alpha, a project I'm currently working on because I believe that Gen Alpha can still make a change despite their tender age and also to my art such as animations and writing. My animations include artistic environmentals of the roses, Mother Nature, and the pretty damsel, etc and also the book AMAMA which talks about saving the life on land and stopping deforestation. I'm currently on a mission to restore the garden city of Nigeria with my community by educating them. But Harcourt being the garden city of Nigeria is not really the garden city again because of deforestation taking place and other forms of environmental degradation. So I want to restore the garden city with my community. Also, I'm also spreading awareness through my campaigns online, despite critics and one time, my friend told me that I'm not leaving my childhood because I'm being concerned about climate change instead of having fun. But the truth is that nobody is going to enjoy living their childhood if we don't tackle the problem of climate change and restore the earth for future generations. Thank you.
Who or what inspires/inspired you to care about climate change and climate solutions?
Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton: Good day, everyone. My name is Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton. I'm 13 years old from River State Nigeria and I'm a climate action advocate. What inspired me to take climate actions was when I discovered that in my community, people are suffering from harsh environmental degradation and we are also harming Mother Nature. I believe that mother nature is kind to us. So we should reciprocate that love.
