Youth Initiative 4 Climate Action

05/05/2026

Why Early Warning Systems Change Everything!

In informal settlements like Portee Wharf, disasters do not announce themselves with enough time for formal systems to respond. By the time a national alert is issued, water is already in the house.
That is why community-led Early Warning Systems are not just useful they are life-saving. When trained women within the community can identify early signs of flooding, activate communication protocols, and mobilise neighbours before the worst hits, lives are protected. Children reach higher ground. Elderly residents are not left behind. Families have time to move what little they have.

An early warning system that lives inside a community that is maintained by the community is infinitely more responsive than one that depends entirely on outside institutions. It does not need a signal. It does not need a government dispatch. It just needs people who are trained, trusted, and ready.

That is exactly what Group 3 of our Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme is building in Portee Wharf, Wellington.
Over three intensive days, Sydnella, Isatu, Alma, Mabinty, and Ismatu delivered a comprehensive disaster preparedness and early warning systems training with 10 women from the heart of the Portee Wharf community. This was not a one-hour session or a single workshop. It was three full days of learning, practising, and preparing because when it comes to disaster response, depth of knowledge is everything.

Across the three days, participants were equipped with the knowledge and practical skills to identify early warning signs of flooding and other climate hazards specific to their community, understand disaster risk and why Portee Wharf is particularly vulnerable, respond effectively in the critical moments before, during, and after a disaster strikes, communicate quickly and clearly within their community when a hazard is approaching, and coordinate evacuation and protection measures for the most vulnerable children, the elderly, and households closest to the waterline.

These 10 women are not passive beneficiaries. They are now Community Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Champions in training , the first line of defence for a community that has historically had no formal protection structure at all.

Because here is the truth: in communities like Portee Wharf, you cannot wait for help to arrive from outside. The response has to come from within. And now, for the first time, Portee Wharf has women who are trained, organised, and ready to lead that response.

To Sydnella Pratt , Isatu, Alma, Mabinty, and Ismatu you did not just run a training. You planted the seeds of a community protection system that could save lives for years to come. We are deeply proud of everything you have built.

Thank you to our partners Dreamtown for supporting these mentees with seed funding to create this impact

The Fund for Global Human Rights (through their Legal Empowerment Fund), for making this work possible.

28/04/2026

Not too long ago, the school garden was a rite of passage in most schools in Sierra Leone. Every student knew what it felt like to have soil on their hands before the school bell rang. To argue over whose row was growing faster. To feel that quiet pride when something you planted actually came to life.
We lost that. And we think it is time we got it back.

At YICASL, we have always believed that the most powerful classroom is the one where young people can see, touch, and feel the change they are creating. So when we established the Environmental Club at our partner school, ST Thomas Primary School, we did not just hand them a name and a badge we gave them a garden, a mission, and the knowledge to carry it forward.

This week, we showed up for them.
Over two purposeful days, we sat with the club members and their teachers building their understanding of climate change, food security, and what it truly means to be environmental stewards in their own community. Then on day two, we put down the notebooks, walked outside, and planted. Together. Seedlings we had carefully nursed, now finding their home in the very school these young people walk into every day.

Watching a student place a plant in the ground and realise this is mine to care for is one of the most quietly powerful things you will ever witness. Something in them changes. And that change is exactly what Sierra Leone needs right now.

To Plan Int'l Sierra Leone through the Youth Climate Change Accelerator fund (YCCA) thank you for being the kind of partner that makes real change possible. This work exists because you believed in it.
C40 Cities
Freetown City Council

22/04/2026

At YICA, we have always believed that the most powerful climate solutions are not found in boardrooms or international conferences. They are found in communities designed by the people who live there, led by the people who care the most.

Team UrbanBloom, one of the mentee groups from our Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme, is living proof of that belief.

In Hastings, these four young women sat down with a blank page, a bold idea, and a determination to do something meaningful for their community. Today, that idea has broken ground. Phase one of their urban farming project is complete built alongside 10 community women whose lives, livelihoods, and futures sit at the very centre of this work.

We want to pause and say something important. Women-led projects are consistently underfunded, underestimated, and overlooked. Yet time and again, it is women who design solutions that last because they design from lived experience, from community knowledge, and from a place of genuine care for the people around them. When we choose to fund, mentor, and amplify women-led ideas, we are not doing them a favour. We are making one of the smartest investments available to us.

Team UrbanBloom did not just grow a garden. They grew food security. They grew economic opportunity. They grew climate resilience. And they grew it in partnership with the women of Hastings because that is the only way this kind of work should be done.

To our incredible , Fatima Mariam , Yealie , and Kadijatu your vision, your grit, and your commitment to your community have moved us deeply. We are so proud to call you YWCMP mentees.

And to those who chose to believe in them early !
Dreamtown for the seed funding that made this project possible and for investing in the kind of grassroots, women-led climate justice work the world needs more of

The Fund for Global Human Rights (through their Legal Empowerment Fund) for investing in grassroots, youth-led climate justice movements .

Mr. AbuBakarr Barrie , for showing up consistently, from the earliest design conversations to standing in the field alongside these young women. That kind of support is rare and it matters deeply.
Phase one is complete. The soil is ready. And Team UrbanBloom is just getting started.

YICA

20/04/2026

*Applications for Cohort Two of the Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme are officially open*

We are inviting applications from young women aged 16–25 in Freetown, Sierra Leone, who are passionate about climate action, committed to personal growth, and ready to step into leadership.

We are looking for 20 exceptional young women who are ready to deepen their understanding of climate change, develop their leadership capacity, and take meaningful action in their communities.

What the programme offers:

⚫️One-on-one mentorship from experienced climate professionals across West Africa

⚫️In-person training days, online workshops, and climate field visits

⚫️Internship placements with climate institutions and city partners

⚫️Project design, grant writing, and advocacy skills training

⚫️A growing network of women climate leaders in Sierra Leone

How to apply:

Apply via the link -https://forms.gle/eUFwp2SKUQ6xRsmu5

Applications close on 10th May 2026 at 11:59PM GMT

Dreamtown The Fund for Global Human Rights C40 Cities

31/03/2026

WE ARE IN THE C40 YOUTH HUB NEWSLETTER!

The story of our Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme has just been featured on the C40 Cities Youth Hub a global platform reaching climate leaders and city officials across the world.

From the streets of Freetown to a global stage your work, your voices, and your impact are being seen and celebrated far beyond Sierra Leone.

This is what happens when young women are given the tools, the support, and the space to lead. They don’t just show up they stand out.

To every mentor, partner, and supporter who believed in this vision THANK YOU. 🙏

And to our incredible Cohort One we are just getting started.

07/02/2026

We proudly closed the first cohort of the Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme with an inspiring celebration of leadership, learning, and youth-led climate action. Over the past months, these remarkable young women moved from ideas to impact strengthening their climate knowledge, building leadership confidence, and designing practical solutions to address environmental challenges in their communities.

During the ceremony, mentees presented their group projects, received certificates, and were awarded seed grants of $1,500 per group, generously supported by Dreamtown to kick-start the implementation of their initiatives. This milestone marked not just the end of a programme, but the beginning of community-driven solutions led by young women committed to climate justice and resilience.

We were honoured to be joined by our guest speakers, including Isatu Manja Kargbo from the Mayor’s Delivery Team and Sallieu Kanu from C40 Cities, whose powerful statements reinforced the importance of youth leadership, partnerships, and inclusive urban climate action.

To our donors, The Fund for Global Human Rights through their Legal Empowerment fund and DreamTown thank you for believing in young women and investing in their solutions.

To C40 Cities, thank you for your trust, collaboration, and technical support.

To our mentors, your guidance, patience, and commitment shaped every stage of this journey this programme would not have been possible without you.

To our mentees, we are incredibly proud of your growth, courage, and leadership your communities are stronger because of you.
To our guest speakers, Manja and Sallieu, thank you for your inspiration and encouragement.

To our colleagues and team, thank you for your dedication, heart, and behind-the-scenes work that made this programme a success.



Photo credit: JO3's Format

06/02/2026

JOIN OUR TEAM

FINANCE OFFICER

Youth Initiative for Climate Action Sierra Leone is inviting applications for the position of Finance Officer.

The role is based in Freetown and is part time, three days or 24 hours per week, for a duration of one year. The Finance Officer will support financial management, reporting, grant compliance, and accountability across YICA-SL programmes, including youth-led climate action and community projects.

This role is suitable for candidates with a background in accounting or finance and experience working with NGOs or donor-funded projects. Strong reporting skills and attention to detail are required.

Applications are submitted online only.

Apply using the link below:
https://bit.ly/JoinYICA

Full Job Description below:
https://bit.ly/YICAFinanceJD

Deadline for applications is 20 February 2026.
Follow for updates and future opportunities.

12/12/2025

Across the world, thousands of young people care deeply about climate action, yet only a handful ever get the chance to sit in global negotiation rooms like COP30. For many Sierra Leonean youth, barriers such as funding, access, travel restrictions, and institutional limitations mean their voices remain unheard on the global stage. This is why post-COP engagements are not optional they are essential.

Our Post-COP30 Youth-Led Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue created that missing link. It brought global climate outcomes home and ensured young people, especially girls and young women, could fully understand the decisions made in Brazil and how those decisions directly shape Sierra Leone’s development pathway.

Together with representatives from Plan International (Mr. Peter), the Mayor’s Office and C40 Cities (Mr. Sallieu Kanu), and Save the Children (Esther), we unpacked the key results from COP30, explored the implications for our country, and opened the space for young people to ask questions, challenge ideas, and contribute their own solutions.

One of the most powerful moments of the event was the presentation of the She Leads Young Women’s Climate Declaration a bold call from girls and young women demanding meaningful participation, climate financing access, gender-responsive implementation, and accountability at every level. By placing this declaration in the hands of stakeholders, we moved one step closer to ensuring that young women’s priorities are not just heard but integrated into national climate planning.

This dialogue reminded us that climate leadership does not only happen at COP. It happens in rooms like these where young people gain clarity, where institutions share commitments, and where collective ideas turn into action.

By breaking down information, supporting project development, and showing young people how to track progress and hold government accountable, we are strengthening a generation of climate leaders who will shape Sierra Leone’s future.

Post-COP spaces give youth what global platforms often cannot . access,understanding, ownership, and a seat at the table right here at home.

Thanks to our partners Plan International and The Fund for Global Human Rights through there Legal Empowerment Fund for supporting this initiative.

25/11/2025

COP30 is over. Now, the real work begins in Freetown.

What do the global decisions made at COP30 mean for Sierra Leone? How do we move from international pledges to local action?

We are excited to announce the Youth-Led Post COP30 Multistakeholder Consultative Debriefing, a two-day forum designed to empower the youth of Freetown to take charge of our climate future.

Theme: Beyond the Pledges: Translating COP30 Commitments into Local Action for Intergenerational Equity.

This event creates a dedicated space for youth to:

✅Break down COP30 outcomes into simple, practical terms.
✅Examine Sierra Leone’s specific climate pledges.
✅Discuss how national commitments can be translated into community-level action.
✅Strengthen skills in climate diplomacy, advocacy, and policy interpretation.

Date: 9-10 December 2025

Join us to ensure that Sierra Leone’s largest demographic, youth, has a seat at the table and a hand in the solution.

APPLY HERE: https://bit.ly/postCOP

Organized by: YICA, Eco Vanguard, She Leads, and Plan International.

The two-day post-COP30 youth engagement forum is designed to help young people understand the major global decisions made at COP30 and what those outcomes mean for Sierra Leone’s climate future. As the world accelerates efforts to address climate change, it is essential that young people, the larg...

11/10/2025

Here is ELizabeth Kargbo, one of our Cohort participants of the Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme moderating dialogue sessions on climate action at the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Girls Summit in Dakar, Senegal.

P.C: Mahoi

UNICEF Sierra Leone

26/09/2025

Funding is one of the biggest barriers young people face in turning their ideas into action. Many have brilliant solutions for the climate crisis, but without the right skills to write proposals and secure resources, those ideas often remain just dreams.

That’s why at YICA, through our Young Women Climate Mentorship Programme, we dedicated an entire training to Grant Writing, Project Design, and Fundraising Skills .

From writing problem statements and objectives, to building budgets, sustainability plans, and fundraising strategies, participants learned how to transform passion into professional proposals that speak the language of donors. They also explored how to tell compelling project stories, communicate impact, and measure results skills that open doors to partnerships and long-term sustainability.

With guidance from our experienced facilitators Billy Harry T. Sesay (Budgeting & Financial Reporting), Osman Benk Sankoh (Impact Communication & Storytelling), Bangalie Lamin (Monitoring & Evaluation), and Sarah (Proposal Writing Basics) participants not only gained technical skills but also the confidence to engage with donors and pitch their ideas.

Supported by Plan International Netherlands through the She Leads Equity Accelerator Grant, this training was more than just a capacity-building session it was an investment in the leadership of young women who are ready to design impactful projects and secure the funding needed to drive climate solutions in their communities.

At YICA, we believe that when young women have the right tools, they don’t just join climate action ,they lead it.

The Fund for Global Human Rights Dreamtown .