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Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

71 young talents working together to raise awareness about environmental and human rights protection in the mining sector

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

July 12^th, 2019

71 young professionals and students from all over the world joined forces with the United Nations Development Programme and the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency to raise awareness about environmental and human rights protection in the mining sector in four resource-rich countries: Colombia, Kenya, Mongolia and Mozambique.

They were recruited through the United Nations Volunteers' online volunteering service and have concluded online trainings about the Agenda 2030, environment and human rights issues, mining, storytelling, and investigative journalism, which were sponsored by the joint Swedish Environmental Protection Agency-UNDP Environmental Governance Programme (EGP).

They worked with the EGP to capture and produce stories about change in the mining sector that are now being featured on the World Bank-UNDP extractive industries platform, the Inter Press Service (IPS) News Agency, Kenya's influential Daily Reporter newspaper, the EGP website, and promoted on UNDP and Swedish social media. All work was done online, with no traveling necessary for the Young Environmental Journalists.

Articles & Stories

Read some of the best stories prepared by the Young Environmental Journalists - 2019 pilot project:

Empowering Communities to Monitor Environmental Degradation and human rights violations caused by coal mining in Tete, Mozambique, published by Africa Eco News, Kenya
Curbing Land Degradation & Protecting the Environment in Mongolia, published by the Inter Press Service (IPS news agency)
Communities in Mozambique Inspired to Curb Deforestation, published by the InDepthNews (IDN)
Growing Youth Activism for Environmental Protection in Africa, published by the IPS news agency
Health Risks: New Initiatives Being Adopted to Enhance Mercury-Free Gold Mining in Kenya, published by Kenya's Daily Reporter newspaper

Video Testimonials

Watch some of the video testimonials delivered by Young Environmental Journalist during the 2019 EGP Annual Global Workshop:

THE COLOMBIA GROUP:

The group of Young Environmental Journalists focusing on Colombia is composed of 23 young talents from very different backgrounds, nationalities and locations, but all united around the common goal of advancing environmental and human rights protection. They are: Andrea Katherin Lozada Rozo; Andreea Bordei; Ayesha Shafi; Christian Camilo Arroyo Mera; Daniel Felipe Torres Ramirez; Deysi Quilla; Fabio Restrepo; Jorge Ceja Valencia; Juan Sebastián Sanabria Niño; Juliana Isabel Betancur Buritica; Laura Becerra; Leah Tibbets; María Fernanda Cruz Aguilar; Maria Peruyero; Michele Favero; Milagros Roson; Nayana Kollanthara; Priscilla Jara; Sami Riaño Mazzoldi; Sarah Whatnall; Spoorthi Thota; and Wendy Martinez.

This is what some of them have to say about being an Young Environmental Journalist:

María Fernanda Cruz Aguilar, 20 years old, from Medellin, Colombia:

I love my country and its people, I want to show the rest of the world the amazing stories we have here about strength, courage and resilience.

Juliana Isabel Betancur Buritica, from Medellin, Colombia:

I decided to participate in the project because the issue of mining is very important and controversial in Colombia. With this project I have found the opportunity to contribute to this issue and show how mining can be integrated with economy, environment and human rights.

Priscilla Jara, 28 years old, from New York, USA:

The reason I'm participating in the project is because I've missed the feeling of collaborating in projects that used both my skills and background. I wanted to be part of something that's meaningful with like-minded people.

Maria Peruyero, from Vancouver, Canada:

When I found the Young Environmental Journalist project I was really excited as it was an opportunity to work with the United Nations and contribute, even in a small way, to achieve positive change and hopefully help raise awareness on human rights and environmental issues.

Laura Castro, 24 years old, from Bogota, Colombia:

I am part of this project because I have always been always passionate about the environment and about my country. With this project I have found an opportunity to let people know about my country and I feel so glad to contribute.

Sarah Whatnall, 22 years old, from London, UK:

This project can help mining to be fairly understood in Colombia as a multi-faceted sociological issue.

Spoorthi Thota, 18 years old, from Hyderabad, India:

I have been passionate about volunteering since a young age and that has been my motivation to participate in this project.

Sami Riaño Mazzoldi, 19 years old, from Bogota, Colombia:

The support given by different civil society organizations is absolutely necessary for Colombia and for the pathway for peace in this moment. As a young member of the Colombian society, this project is an opportunity for me to humbly collaborate towards a peaceful future.

Andrea Katherin Lozada Rozo, 20 years old, from Bogota, Colombia:

I am participating in this project because I think this is a very interesting opportunity to learn more about this subject.

Michelle Favero, 30 years old, from Italy:

The Environmental Programme project is an opportunity to learn from UNDP about the importance of giving visibility to people who are left behind, and help protect them.

Jorge Ceja Valencia, 22 years old, from Guadalajara, Mexico:

I believe in the collective effort as a tool to improve our planet.

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Maria Peruyero

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Sami Riaño Mazzoldi

Laura Becerra

Sami Riaño Mazzoldi

The kenya group:

23 young talents from Kenya, Indonesia, Australia, Finland, Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Myanmar, and the United States are working together as a team focusing on issues in Kenya. They are: Akinyi Chemutai; Ayub Maalim; Charity Migwi; Chrisantus Okelo; Eddy Nandi; Ella Fox-Martens; Evans Otieno; Katherine Liu; Fibanda Brotry; Fredrick Ajok; Fredrick Kamencu; Haji Mutenje; Hillary Kibet; Martin Genter; Mehnaz Shafquat; Nancy Wawasi; Patience James Adaka; Purity Nzioka; Rachael Gachui; Rafidah Rahman; Sami el Geneidy; Stanley Thuita; Trang Le; and Tun Pa Pa Kyaw.

Learn more about some of them:

Sami El Geneidy, 25 years old, from Turku, Finland:

I want to protect our biodiversity, environment and human rights by communicating about these important topics in the context of the mining industry with other volunteers.

Ella Fox-Martens, 20 years old, from Perth, Australia:

I am participating in this project because I am passionate about the environmental developments in Kenya, and I think the world should know about it.

Rachael Njoki Gachui, 23 years old, from Nairobi, Kenya:

I believe that environmental issues have the greatest effects on a person's day-to-day life and as such telling this person's story is the best way to understand the magnitude of environmental degradation.

Mehnaz Shafquat, 20 years old, from Karachi, Pakistan:

I am participating in this project because I want to learn more about sustainability policies and initiatives, particularly in industries which are traditionally viewed as unsustainable or working against environmental conservation.

Kibet Hillary, 24 years, from Kakamega, Kenya:

I am participating in the Young Environmentalist Journalist Programme because I firmly believe that for sustainable development to occur, mining has to continue yet this has to be done guided by clear stipulated environmental and human rights aspects in place.

Katherine Liu, 18 years old, from Taiwan:

I wanted to gain journalism experience as well as helping raise awareness on human rights and environmental issues.

Stanley Chege Thuita, 27 years old, from Nakuru, Kenya:

I am participating in this project to lean and interact with the key players of mining and human rights as I understand more about environment and pollution.

Nancy Wawasi, 24 years old, from Mombasa, Kenya:

I am passionate about journalism because you can impact and touch the lives of millions by just doing what I love.

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

The mongolia group:

10 young professionals and students from Mongolia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Australia and the United Kingdom are focusing on environmental and human rights protection issues in Mongolia. They are: Akmaral Jakibayeva; Ariunmunkh Munkhjargal; Arushi Sharma; Avimukt Verma; Nayana Kollanthara; Nola Hoang; Sarah Whatnall; Tsevelmaa Tumurchudur; Undarmaa Ulziibat; and Yuqing Zhang

Meet some of them today:

Ariunmunkh Munkhjargal, 26 years old from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia:

I am participating this project because I can help my community through online- based volunteering in flexible working hours.

Arushi Sharma, 24 years old, from New Delhi, India:

I have joined this project because I am interested in exploring how communication and journalism can become a guiding map for adoption of good practices.

Yuqing Zhang, 23 years old, from Beijing, China:

As an architecture and urban planning student, I am passionate about regional developments and human interactions in the built environment. This programme is a great chance for me to learn about mining issues that affect the sustainable development of the world and to contribute to planning practices.

Avimukt Verma, 23 years old, from Sidney, Australia:

I am participating in this project because of my passion in the development work done by UNDP.

Akmaral Jakibayeva, 18 years old, from Almaty, Kazakhstan:

I participate in this project because I think that it is important to speak up about environmental protection issues.

Arushi Sharma

Yuqing Zhang

Avimukt Verma

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

the mozambique group

11 Young Environmental Journalists from Mozambique, Angola, Brazil, Portugal, Peru and Australia are dedicated to issues related to Mozambique. They are: Alexandria McKee; Bruno Saviotti; Gabriel Lucchesi Montenegro Silva; Juelma Tomás; Luís Leite; Luz Garaycochea; Mariane Almeida; Sara Tavares de Jesus; Sarah Reboucas Reedman; Sofia Barbeiro; Zacarias Chicuio.

Meet some of them today:

Zacarias Filipe Chicuio, 25 years old, from Búzi, Sofala Province, Mozambique:

I got this opportunity as the very first chance to develop my skills in group working, showing interest in everything I always expected to deal with. I am really pleased to be part of this project and I hope to be able to meet its expectations.

Alexandria McKee, 24 years old, from Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory of Australia:

I have always had a strong desire to volunteer my time to improve people's quality of life - whether that be helping care for children in need or writing a grant proposal. I genuinely believe the pen is mightier than the sword, and with it we can open people's eyes to different perspectives as well as injustices that are being committed.

Mariane Almeida, 21 years old, from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil:

I feel deeply enthusiastic about human rights and I see this project as an opportunity to strengthen a link with Mozambique through initiatives that will create a hopeful perspective.

Luís Leite, 34 years old, from Braga, Portugal:

I love to tell people's stories to inspire positive change. Being part of this group is a way to give back to the country where I lived. The Mozambican reality is quite complex and I have no doubt that it will be a huge challenge. With our youth I think it will be possible to find innovative models with ambitious results.

Luz Garaycochea, 23 years old, from Lima, Peru:

As a volunteer in this programme, I have the opportunity to cross frontiers and expand environmental communication and education in the whole world, and promote the respect for nature through words and inspiration.

Gabriel Montenegro, 31 years old, from Curitiba, Brazil:

The mining sector is a field where human rights violations happen. I got really interested about this project focusing on changing that reality by giving visibility to good practices and helping the development of regions in most need.

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

thank you!

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and the United Nations Development Programme are very thankful for the engagement and dedication of so many young talents around this cause. We also thank the support of the United Nations Volunteers' online volunteering service.

About the EGP:

The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency and UNDP launched in 2014 the Environmental Governance Programme (EGP) for Sustainable Natural Resource Management, focusing on the mining sector. The EGP supports countries to integrate environment and human rights into the governance of the mining sector.

The EGP is funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

E-mail: contact.egp@undp.org Website: egp-undp.org

Meet the Young Environmental Journalists

Footnotes

Cover picture credits: © iStock.com by Getty Images/SetsukoN. Closing pictures credits: © iStock.com by Getty Images/DMEPhotography.

FootNotes

Cover picture credits: © iStock.com by Getty Images/SetsukoN. Closing pictures credits: © iStock.com by Getty Images/DMEPhotography.

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