Hi John,

Last month, we asked you to tell us how climate change is affecting your life. We received hundreds of responses from supporters across 15 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, India, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, the UK and the US. Here’s what some of you had to say:

Many of my relatives live in Kenya. They are facing starvation due to drought and crop failures. Azim, Canada

Climate change is creating insecure housing and food systems. I can no longer afford to cater for my family. I cannot afford rent, fees, treatment and other essentials. Kabishanga, Uganda

It's causing horrific wildfires in California. It's causing drought & water rationing. It’s killing our trees, plants & wildlife. It's fouling our air & our water. It's making it harder to breathe. It's causing hardship & fear. Adrianne, US

Nowadays drought is the new normal. Over the past 15 years we’ve had wildfires which have killed over 100 people, followed by heavy floods. Athina, Greece

We're planning the next stages of our climate change campaign to demand communities facing the worst impacts of climate change have the money and resources they need to respond. We'll be reaching out to some of you who shared your experiences to find out more and amplify your stories.

💡 Solutions journalism story of the month

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🤔 Poll: What does global economic inequality mean to you?

Help us choose a punchy one-liner for our global economic reform campaign. Which statement about global inequality resonates most with you?

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People changing the world: Sally Ndwiga

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I’m Sally Ndwiga and I’m 34 years old. I currently live in the UK, but I’m originally from Kenya.

What is the focus area of your activism work? 

Access to education for adolescent girls in Kenya is becoming a growing problem. In Kenya, over 600,000 girls of primary school age are not enrolled in school. This is due to factors like early marriage, pregnancy, period shaming, and others. I was moved to set up a mentorship program under my organization. It aims to encourage girls to join school to help curb rising poverty in my country.

What inspired you to become an activist?

In 2019, I had the opportunity to volunteer in my community. I taught children the importance of handwashing as a cost-effective means of reducing preventable diseases. The interaction I had with the children while teaching them filled me with so much joy and unending satisfaction – just knowing that I had impacted someone’s life positively. Since then, I knew that I never wanted to lose that feeling. Through my regular interaction with children at school I become aware of the gaps that exist in access to education, especially for girls. So I was convinced that becoming a ONE activist would be a great platform to lobby for equal education for girls in my community.

Which activist has most inspired you?

Doreen Moraa Moracha. She is an East African ONE activist with the biggest heart. I met her during the ONE induction program in May last year. Prior to that, I had never met anyone so passionate and open on educating people about HIV/AIDS. I keenly follow her work on social media and she inspires me. 

What's one thing you've learned that might help someone new to activism?

It’s okay not to have everything figured out. You can always learn on the job. I was so anxious when I started out my activism journey. I felt like my impact wasn’t good enough and that others were doing the 'real' thing. But then I took a moment to look back at all of the hard work I’d done in my community and acknowledged the effort I’ve put into helping girls access education.

What was the last book that had a big impact on you and why?

Earlier this month I read Viola Davis’ ‘Finding Me’ and it completely changed my life. I now appreciate every single step I have taken to get where I am today as a Global Activist. This book is a game changer and one that everyone should read, especially those that have struggled with low self-esteem.  

Want to hear more from Sally? Watch her video to learn her top tips on being an effective volunteer!

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