The world is on fire. And the young people of Rwanda are refusing to watch from the sidelines.

On March 8, 2025, at the College of George Fox Kagarama, something shifted. One hundred high school students gathered for a climate change workshop. By the end of the day, they weren’t just informed about environmental crisis—they were mobilised for action.

Friends Career Center’s Community Engagement Lead, Jean D’Amour Tuyizere, alongside an environmental science specialist and a Quaker elder, facilitated conversations that moved beyond doom and into possibility. They didn’t just talk about climate change; they addressed why it matters, what we’re losing, and what we can do about it.

The students learned the science: rising temperatures, deforestation, carbon emissions. But more importantly, they explored the question that transforms knowledge into action: What role will I play?

And then something remarkable happened. Instead of leaving the workshop and returning to business as usual, the students planted fruit trees. Dozens of them. They got their hands in the soil. They felt the weight of responsibility. They made a tangible commitment to the future.

But the real transformation came next: these students decided to create an environmental club at their school. Not because they were told to. Because they had to. Because they’d caught the urgency. Because they understood that they are not bystanders in this crisis—they are the generation tasked with solving it.

One student captured it perfectly: “Young people are the future, and if we don’t engage in climate action now, the challenges ahead will be much worse. I feel responsible for protecting the environment for future generations.”

This is climate activism at its purest—not performance, but purpose.

Why This Matters Now

Rwanda faces acute climate threats: unpredictable rainfall, landslides, floods. Young people in rural communities understand this viscerally. They see it in their crops, their water, their safety. They don’t need convincing that climate change is real. They need tools, knowledge, and permission to be part of the solution.

Friends Career Center is expanding its climate programming because we believe young people aren’t just affected by this crisis—they’re equipped to lead us through it. With mentorship, practical training in sustainable agriculture, policy advocacy skills, and a supportive community, young Africans can become the climate leaders the world desperately needs.

What Comes Next

We’re launching EcoFriends—a full programme of climate workshops, green career pathways, and environmental leadership training in schools across Rwanda. We’re training a generation of young climate advocates who will:

• Plant trees and restore ecosystems
• Engage in policy conversations
• Model sustainable practices in their communities
• Inspire their peers to take action
• Carry this momentum into their careers

Be Part of This Movement

Every young climate activist we train is a seed planted for a sustainable future. If you believe in the power of youth-led environmental change, you can support this work. Sponsor a workshop. Provide internships in green careers. Mentor a young environmentalist. Share these stories with your networks.

The young people of Rwanda aren’t waiting for permission to save their world. They’re already moving.

Help us equip more climate leaders. Contact us at [email protected] or visit our website to support EcoFriends.