Strengthening Local Climate Leadership: Evaluating a Community-Based Empowerment Initiative
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52428/27888991.v7i11.1489Keywords:
climate leadership; women empowerment; youth engagement; green entrepreneurship; sustainable development; Sindh; environmental educationAbstract
Women and youth play a vital role in strengthening climate resilience, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Sindh, Pakistan. This study evaluates the Green Earth Action Day Foundation (GEAF) one-day climate leadership intervention aimed at improving climate literacy, encouraging community participation, and empowering young people and women. The event was conducted in a rural community where 420 participants including 320 youth and 100 women aged 15 to 35, took part in climate awareness sessions, a simple knowledge quiz, tree-planting activities, and discussions on green entrepreneurship. A brief pre- and post-questionnaire assessed changes in basic climate knowledge and perceptions. Findings showed noticeable improvement in understanding climate change, water challenges, waste management, and sustainable practices. The event also included the distribution of practical livelihood resources, such as sewing machines for five women and green materials to support small-scale environmental initiatives. Overall, the GEAF intervention demonstrated that a short, community-based program can effectively enhance climate awareness and empower women and youth in resource-constrained settings.
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