Climate change is one of the most critical problems facing Somalia, along with other ever-lasting conflicts and political instability that the country has been going through for the last thirty years. Young women and girls have been disproportionately affected by climate change effects, such as repeated devastating droughts in Somalia, and they bear an unfair burden from these crises. Women and girls are not well included in the design and implementation of climate action strategies and responses. Despite deep gender disparities in Somalia, the few young feminist climate activists that come out to speak for themselves are facing challenges due to a lack of knowledge on advocacy and activism and limited collaboration among them to take an active and coordinated role in addressing climate change.
In response to this, Hawa Feminist Coalition held a training for 50 emerging young feminist activists from across Somalia and taught them more about feminist advocacy and intergenerational activism, as well as giving them a safe place to meet each other, joining their voices and actions, and sharing their thoughts on how to deal with climate change and their hopes for the future.
During the workshop, participants learned about the impact of climate change on women’s lives and livelihoods and explored feminist approaches to climate action, including the specific impact of climate change on women in Somalia, including its effects on health, livelihoods, and security. They also learned about the importance of feminist approaches to climate action, which recognize the unequal impact of climate change on women and seek to address these inequalities through inclusive and gender-sensitive policies and programs.
The workshop included a range of activities, including presentations, group discussions, and case studies. Participants learned about the importance of advocacy and policy-making in promoting gender-sensitive climate policies and built their skills in public speaking and movement building. The workshop also provided an opportunity for participants to network and connect with other young feminist climate activists from across Somalia. They shared their experiences and ideas and built a sense of community and solidarity around the issues of climate change and feminist issues.
These young feminist climate activists learned about feminist advocacy and intergenerational activism and formed partnerships and coordination among themselves. They are now able to lead the conversation about climate change, raise awareness, and encourage others to act.
The workshop ended with a call to action for participants to take their newfound knowledge and skills back to their communities and advocate for policies and programs that promote gender equality and environmental resilience. And record videos to share through social media platforms and reach thousands of people online.
