Several youth groups at Walvis Bay have secured further funding from Bloomberg Philanthropies to develop and implement local climate change solutions, building on the success of previous initiatives.
The town’s youth grabbed the opportunity to apply for the second round of funds that were made available by the Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund.
Walvis Bay received N$1 million in 2024, following a bid by Walvis Bay mayor Trevino Forbes while participating at the Local Climate Action Summit at COP28 in Dubai in December 2023.
Some 100 mayors benefited from the Bloomberg fund to allow young people between the ages of 15 and 24 years old to design, produce and govern urgent climate solutions at their towns and cities.
The solutions are from 38 different countries across six continents, representing over 62 million residents.
The money was used well by the previous 11 youth groups who came up with projects, including buying solar panel lights to give to the community of farm 37, donating a solar system for schools, climate photography workshops, a green economy conference, a waste management programme, and starting gardens around the town.
Their efforts were noticed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, which provided another N$1.8 million last year.
A total of 19 other Walvis Bay youth projects were announced for the follow-up round on Tuesday out of 44 applications.
One of the previous beneficiaries, Martha Kanyemba, who started a community gardening project, received another chance to continue with her project, while Keanu Dax, who planted trees at schools, decided to recycle materials for egg trays.
“My project is about egg tray manufacturing through the use of carton boxes and other materials lying around. I will be collecting all over Walvis Bay. I was awarded N$85 000 to buy the manufacturing materials,” he says.
“I am from the International School of Walvis Bay. I got N$50 000. We are taking recycled materials and turning them into firewood bricks at an affordable price,” Irene Ugwanga says.
Forbes encouraged the youth groups to make a difference in their community.
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