Real voices. Real change. Discover how our programs are transforming lives across Africa.
Hello World! I'm Alberta from the Bongo District, and I'm a proud climate ambassador. I'm committed to raising awareness and inspiring positive change in my community.
My journey with ARC began three years ago when I was just a young woman watching my community struggle with the devastating effects of climate change. The Bongo District, located in the Upper East Region, has always been vulnerable to extreme weather patterns. Our dry season was getting longer, our rains more unpredictable, and our farmers were losing hope.
I remember the day ARC held a community meeting in our village. They spoke about climate change not as a distant problem, but as something we were already experiencing. For the first time, someone was offering us solutions instead of just sympathy. I was one of thirty young people selected for ARC's Climate Ambassador Training Program, and it changed my life forever.
The training was intensive and eye-opening. We learned about the science of climate change, how greenhouse gases trap heat in our atmosphere, and why our weather patterns were changing. But ARC didn't stop at theory, they equipped us with practical skills. We learned about climate-smart agriculture, water conservation techniques, renewable energy solutions, and how to communicate these concepts to our communities in ways people could understand and apply.
After completing the training, I started small. I began with my own family, teaching my parents about improved farming techniques that conserve water and build soil health. We planted drought-resistant crops and created a small kitchen garden using water-efficient irrigation methods. Within one season, we saw remarkable improvements in our harvest despite the challenging weather.
Encouraged by this success, I expanded my reach. I organized weekly community gatherings under the big neem tree in our village center. At first, only a handful of people came mostly curious youth. But as they saw the results in my family's farm and heard about practical solutions, word spread. Now, over 150 community members regularly attend my climate awareness sessions.
I've facilitated the training of 80 farmers in climate-smart agriculture practices. Together, we've introduced crop rotation, composting, and mulching techniques that have increased yields by an average of 40% while using less water. We've also started a tree-planting campaign, and our community has planted over 1,000 trees along our main roads and around homes.
One of my proudest achievements is the school program I developed. I visit three primary schools and two junior high schools in our district every month, teaching children about environmental conservation. These young ones are so eager to learn! They've formed eco-clubs, organized clean-up campaigns, and are teaching their parents what they learn. Seeing 10-year-olds educate their families about plastic waste and tree planting fills me with hope for our future.
The solar energy awareness campaign I led has been transformative. Through ARC's support, I've helped 25 households transition to solar lighting, reducing their dependence on kerosene and firewood. The women especially appreciate this and they can now engage in income-generating activities in the evenings, and their children can study after dark without inhaling harmful smoke.
But my work isn't just about the environment; it's about people. I've seen how climate action can empower communities. Women who attended my training sessions have started their own small businesses selling improved cookstoves that reduce firewood consumption by 60%. Young men have found employment in our tree nursery project. Children are healthier because we've improved sanitation and water management.
The challenges are still immense. Sometimes I face resistance from those who think climate change is a "foreign concept" or who are too weary from daily struggles to think about long-term environmental impacts. During these moments, I remember what ARC taught me: change happens one conversation at a time, one person at a time, one action at a time.
I've also learned the power of collaboration. I work closely with other climate ambassadors across the Upper East Region. We share experiences, support each other, and amplify our impact. Together, we're creating a network of climate-conscious communities that are resilient and prepared for the challenges ahead.
Being a climate ambassador isn't just a title; it's a calling. Every morning, I wake up knowing that my actions today will determine what kind of environment we leave for the next generation. When I see the green spaces we've created, the smiling faces of children learning about their environment, and the renewed hope in farmers' eyes as they harvest better crops, I know this work matters.
ARC didn't just train me to understand climate change; they empowered me to be a catalyst for transformation. They believed in young people like me from rural communities and gave us the tools, knowledge, and confidence to lead change. Now, I'm paying that forward by raising awareness and inspiring positive change in my community and beyond.
My dream is to see every village in the Bongo District become climate-resilient, with communities that don't just survive climate change but thrive despite it. I envision a future where our children grow up with green spaces, clean water, and the knowledge to protect their environment. This isn't just my dream and it's becoming our reality, one step at a time.
To anyone reading this: climate change affects us all, but we all have the power to be part of the solution. You don't need a fancy degree or lots of money, you just need care, commitment, and courage. If a young woman from Bongo District can make a difference, so can you.
I'm Alberta, and I'm proud to be a climate ambassador. This is just the beginning of our story.
Alberta's work has directly impacted over 500 individuals in the Bongo District and continues to inspire climate action across the Upper East Region of Ghana.
When ARC first came to our school two years ago, our compound was bare and dusty. During the harmattan season, the wind would blow sand everywhere, making it difficult to see and breathe. We had no shade to rest under during break time, and our classroom temperatures were unbearably hot.
Through ARC, we learned the importance of caring for our environment. The program didn't just teach us about climate change in textbooks, they showed us how to be part of the solution. Every student in our school, from Class 1 to JHS 3, participated in the Green Schools Initiative.
ARC provided us with over 200 seedlings including mango, neem, and moringa trees. They trained our environmental club members on proper planting techniques, watering schedules, and tree maintenance. We learned about the importance of biodiversity and how trees help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
The transformation has been incredible. With their support in tree planting and nurturing, our school compound is now green and welcoming. The trees we planted have grown tall and provide cool shade during our lunch breaks. Birds have returned to our school, and we've even started a small garden where we grow vegetables for our school feeding program.
But the impact goes beyond just trees. ARC taught us about waste management, and we now have separate bins for plastic, paper, and organic waste. We've reduced our school's waste by almost 70%. Our composting project turns food scraps into fertilizer for our garden, completing a sustainable cycle.
We are proud young climate ambassadors, making our school cleaner and better. We've started teaching our younger siblings and parents at home about environmental conservation. Some of us have even started mini tree-planting projects in our own communities.
Our headmaster says our school has become a model for other schools in the district. Visitors come to see what we've accomplished, and we eagerly share our knowledge with them. The confidence we've gained from this project has inspired many of us to consider careers in environmental science and agriculture.
Today, when we look at our green compound, we feel a deep sense of pride and responsibility. We understand that climate change is real, but we also know that we have the power to make a difference. ARC didn't just plant trees in our school, they planted hope and environmental consciousness in our hearts.
We're not just students anymore; we're guardians of our environment, and we're committed to keeping our school and community green for generations to come.
This story represents the collective voice of over 300 students at Anisori Junior High School who participated in ARC's Green Schools Initiative between 2023-2025.
I serve as a reusable sanitary pad trainer at ARC. Through this initiative, I've had the privilege of supporting young girls, helping them stay in school, feel confident, and manage their periods with dignity.
When I first joined ARC, I saw firsthand how menstrual health challenges prevented many girls from attending school regularly. Some would miss up to a week of classes every month, falling behind in their studies and losing confidence.
Through our training program, I've taught over 100 young girls and their mothers how to create and use reusable sanitary pads. These pads are not only environmentally friendly but also provide a sustainable, dignified solution that families can afford.
The transformation I've witnessed is remarkable. Girls who once stayed home during their periods now attend school with confidence. They participate actively in class, their grades improve, and most importantly, they smile more freely.
One mother told me, "You've given my daughter her education back." Those words remind me every day why this work matters. It's my small way of making a big difference in their lives, one pad, one girl, one school day at a time.
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