DOT Climate Program: From Local Action to Global Impact

The global climate crisis is driving unparalleled change, leading to a shift in mindset among young people using the power of knowledge. A mindset shift, coupled with capacity building, is enabling youth to raise awareness and collaborate with communities to foster grassroots mobilization and collective action. The Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) climate project is demonstrating that young people can be the heart of climate action, proving that global solutions can begin with them and are sustained by community members coming together, creating a ripple effect of impact.

Climate change is impacting ecosystems in unique and  interconnected ways, emphasizing the need for collective community efforts. Every year, For example, El Niño, a climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, results in increased temperatures worldwide. It brings heavy rains to regions like Tanzania while causing drought in other parts of Africa. While in other parts of the world like Lebanon, communities must build resilience amidst a fragile economic context as they face increasingly frequent and intense heat waves and reduced rainfall. These diverse environmental impacts on agriculture, water availability, and environmental degradation are struggles shared by several countries in different regions, affecting millions of livelihoods worldwide. This interconnectedness highlights the importance of uniting communities globally to address climate change and DOT is playing a role as a trusted channel to youth and communities that have been the hardest to reach.

To mobilize against the impacts of climate change, Digital Opportunity Trust launched an innovative climate project, supported by the Cisco Foundation, applying DOT’s youth and community-led approach. The project, “Mobilizing Young People as Leaders of Climate Awareness and Community Action,” is empowering young leaders with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to drive climate action within their communities.

A month-long, in-person training brought together 19 passionate Climate Champions—8 from Tanzania (4M, 4F) and 11 from Lebanon (6M, 5F). These young leaders immersed themselves in a comprehensive curriculum covering climate science, climate justice, participatory action research, indigenous knowledge, climate optimism, digital storytelling, coaching, facilitation, and leadership skills. This dynamic curriculum was developed by DOT’s curriculum designers in collaboration with globally renowned climate experts, like Charly Cox, and DOT’s extensive youth network, ensuring that grassroots insights were incorporated  into every learning module. Through the training, these young Climate Champions went beyond developing skills to implement the program. They also were inspired to shift their mindsets, reinvent their purpose and harness untapped energy and self-confidence to become climate leaders, empowered by their newfound knowledge and skills.

A cornerstone of the program was the digitization of learning resources, making them accessible to all in the DOT network through the Learning Management System. This digital approach was initially tailored to meet the unique contexts of Lebanon and Tanzania, ensuring that the training was relevant and impactful for all participants. Adopting a Global Approach, the DOT Climate program partnered with a curriculum designer in Costa Rica, Climate Coaches in the UK, and Climate Scientists in Canada and youth and communities across Africa. This strategy demonstrated that impact across the globe and scaling efforts is achievable with collaboration beyond borders. The real magic occurred  when the Climate Champions returned to their communities, equipped  with knowledge and the drive to make a difference. Within three months, guided by DOT’s Climate Action toolkit, rooted in the Participatory Action Research methodology, these young leaders worked with local community members to brainstorm and develop sustainable solutions for pressing local climate challenges. The results have been truly inspiring, with over 600 community members actively engaged in the process.

In Arusha in Tanzania, the Imbasemi Community spearheaded a project focused on cleaning their water sources and establishing environmental protection guidelines. Facing issues like deforestation, water pollution, and shrinking forests, this initiative will enhance agricultural productivity, prevent water contamination, and reduce the burden on women and children who typically have had to trek long distances to collect water.

In Zanzibar’s Kojani area, Climate Champions initiated the planting of mangrove trees along the coastlines to protect shorelines against erosion, enhance carbon capture and improve salt tolerance. This will also address the issue of seawater encroaching into homes. For a deeper dive into this incredible work, check out the latest DOT Chats episode on mangrove conservation, featuring the Climate Champion.

In Lebanon, Climate Champions conducted climate change awareness workshops, engaging hundreds of community members. These workshops led to brainstorming and the creation of innovative prototypes to tackle  issues such as plastic waste and deforestation, and also showcasing the community’s creativity and commitment to environmental stewardship.

The impact of the DOT Climate program extends beyond the individual projects, collectively making a significant contribution to global climate resilience. Working with their communities, the Climate Champions have demonstrated the power of youth-led concern and creativity, and the resulting initiatives that are addressing worldwide challenges and highlighting the value of community-driven solutions.

As we look to the future, the successes of these young leaders shine  as a beacon of hope and a testament to what can be achieved when passion, knowledge, and community collaboration come together. The DOT Climate program not only equips young people with the tools to combat climate change but is also inspiring a new generation of environmental stewards. This global ripple effect is contributing to a sustainable and resilient world, illustrating the profound impact of empowering youth at scale. 

We invite you to join the journey with DOT to help scale the Climate program into new countries across Africa, the Middle East and the globe – in celebration of youth-led climate awareness, creativity and action.