Education
Project Overview:
Climate Watch Zanzibar is a groundbreaking community-driven climate storytelling and advocacy initiative aimed at empowering local voices from Zanzibar to drive global awareness, influence climate policy, and foster resilience against climate change. By combining citizen science, youth-led journalism, and digital storytelling, this project brings grassroots realities to the forefront of the global climate conversation.
Project Objectives:
- Amplify Local Voices: Train and support youth, women, and community leaders in Zanzibar to document their climate experiences using video, photography, and audio storytelling.
- Promote Climate Literacy: Conduct climate education workshops to increase public understanding of climate science, adaptation strategies, and sustainable practices.
- Build a Digital Archive: Create a multimedia platform showcasing climate stories, community adaptation, and traditional ecological knowledge.
- Influence Global Dialogue: Disseminate local stories through global media partnerships, UN platforms, and climate conferences like COP.
- Strengthen Community Resilience: Support local climate adaptation projects based on the insights and data collected through community reporting.
Why Zanzibar?
Zanzibar, a unique archipelago in the Indian Ocean, is already witnessing severe climate impacts—rising sea levels, coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Yet, the voices of its people remain underrepresented in climate discourse. This project bridges that gap by turning everyday citizens into climate narrators and change agents.
Project Components
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Community Media Labs | Set up 3 community media labs (Unguja North, South, and Pemba) with equipment and internet access. |
| Youth Climate Fellowship | Select and train 30 young Zanzibaris in environmental journalism, digital storytelling, and climate science. |
| Story Collection & Broadcast | Record 100+ stories from local farmers, fishers, elders, and youth. Distribute via radio, social media, and a dedicated website. |
| Workshops & Dialogues | Host monthly forums and climate cafes linking local voices with scientists and policymakers. |
| Global Advocacy & Partnerships | Collaborate with organizations like UNDP, UNEP, BBC Media Action to amplify content internationally. |
Innovation Highlights:
- Decolonizing Climate Narrative: Shifting storytelling power to local communities.
- Citizen Science Integration: Local data collection on climate patterns via mobile apps.
- Eco-Heritage Storytelling: Highlighting traditional knowledge systems for sustainable living.
- Youth-Led Campaigns: Youth produce climate PSAs, podcasts, and conduct school outreach.
Budget Summary: (12-month program)
| Budget Item | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Equipment (Cameras, Laptops, Audio Kits, Internet, Solar Chargers) | $18,000 |
| Media Lab Setup (3 centers) | $12,000 |
| Youth Fellowship (Stipends, Training, Mentorship) | $15,000 |
| Story Production (Travel, Editing, Translators, Content Creators) | $10,000 |
| Climate Literacy Workshops (Venues, Facilitators, Materials) | $8,000 |
| Web & Digital Platform (Design, Hosting, Maintenance) | $6,000 |
| Advocacy & Global Partnerships (COP Event, Travel, Promotion) | $9,000 |
| Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting | $5,000 |
| Administrative & Operational Costs | $7,000 |
| Total Estimated Budget | $90,000 |
Potential Partners & Supporters:
- UNESCO, UNDP, Climate Reality Project
- Zanzibar Climate Change Alliance (ZACCA)
- BBC Media Action
- Global Greengrants Fund
- Local NGOs, schools, and youth networks
Call to Action:
Climate change has a voice—and it's rising from the coasts of Zanzibar. Climate Watch Zanzibar: Local Voices, Global Impact invites funders, journalists, educators, and policymakers to support a bold new vision where stories save ecosystems, inform global action, and ensure no island is left behind.
