By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone, April 25, 2025—The Mayor of Freetown, Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, celebrated the achievements of 18 winners of the Second Round of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund, who were awarded a total of $87,471 (NLe 1,981,000) to implement innovative, youth-led climate solutions.
The ceremony highlighted the collaborative efforts of Freetown City Council, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG) in empowering young people aged 15–24 to lead initiatives addressing the climate crisis. Through micro-grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, the fund supports impactful projects rooted in environmental conservation and climate change mitigation.
Youth-Led Climate Initiatives
The grants, awarded through a competitive proposal process, recognized projects with creative solutions to tackle pressing environmental challenges. Winning initiatives include:
- Waste-to-energy projects,
- Community-driven mangrove restoration in Freetown’s coastal areas, and
- Public education campaigns to raise climate awareness.
Each winning team received funding in New Leones to implement their projects over a six-month period. The implementation will be overseen by the Freetown City Council, which will provide technical support and advice to ensure the projects’ success.
Commitment to Community Impact
Mayor Aki-Sawyerr praised the creativity and dedication of the youth leaders, emphasizing the transformative impact of their work on communities. “I am excited to see the innovation and commitment of our youth and the positive changes they are driving in their communities,” she said.
The Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund continues to foster bold and meaningful efforts by young leaders to combat the climate crisis, contributing to global and local sustainability goals. The mayor’s recognition of the winners underscores Freetown’s commitment to building resilient and environmentally-conscious communities.