By Sallieu S. Kanu
Mayor of Freetown and C40 Co-Chair, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, on July 31, 2024, announced the 9 winners of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund at the monthly council meeting, according to a statement from the Freetown City Council. The winners include Movable Ease Sierra Leone, Sierra Eco Heat, Girls for the Environment, Sierra Sport Paladin, Student Tourism Hub – FBC, Youth Initiative for Climate Action (YICA) Sierra Leone, Nature for Mangroves, EducAid Green Guardians (EGGs), and the Freetown Media Center.
Launched in May 2024 by Freetown City Council, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Fund’s objectives include supporting innovative projects that propose creative and sustainable solutions to climate change, empowering young leaders in the environmental sector, promoting community engagement, and creating networks and opportunities for collaboration among young climate activists, organizations, and experts.
To be eligible, applicants had to be between 15-24 years old, with projects that address a specific environmental issue, propose a feasible solution, and demonstrate potential for significant impact and community engagement. The winning youth organizations will each receive a microgrant of between $1000 and $5000 to implement their innovative projects for climate action. The winners submitted comprehensive plans outlining how funds the will be utelised within 30 days of receiving the notification. The plans include timelines for implementation, along with a roadmap for reporting and monitoring project progress and impact.