AMHHR News & Updates
On the 13th August in Bo, our organization had the privilege of co-hosting a Local Conference of Youth (LCOY) Regional Consultation on Sierra Leone’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), bringing together young people and stakeholders to discuss key issues shaping Sierra Leone’s climate and development agenda.
The consultation focused on agriculture, climate change and resilience, gender inclusion, youth empowerment, livelihoods, and access to opportunities for young people. It provided a valuable platform for young people to share their experiences, perspectives, concerns, and recommendations on how climate action can better respond to the realities facing our communities.
Representing our organization, I had the opportunity to contribute to the discussions by highlighting mental health as a cross-cutting issue. Climate change is not only an environmental challenge; it also affects livelihoods, food security, employment, education, social well-being, and the psychological well-being of individuals and communities.
I emphasized the need to integrate mental health and psychosocial support into climate adaptation, agriculture, youth empowerment, gender-responsive programmes, and community resilience initiatives.
As young people, we must be more than participants in climate conversations. We must be empowered as leaders, innovators, advocates, solution-builders, and decision-makers in shaping Sierra Leone’s climate future.
The consultation was an important step toward ensuring that youth voices are reflected in Sierra Leone’s NDC priorities and that climate action remains inclusive, people-centred, and responsive to the realities of our communities.