Yesterday, the Mayor of Freetown Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr had the distinct pleasure of congratulating the 18 winners of the Second Round of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund.
In partnership with the Freetown City Council, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund empowers young people aged 15–24 to take the lead in tackling the climate crisis. Through micro-grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000, we are proud to support innovative, youth-led climate solutions that are making a real difference in our communities.
The grants were awarded through a competitive proposal process, where youth-led organizations submitted project concepts based on environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. The successful projects include waste-to-energy initiatives, community-driven mangrove restoration in Freetown’s coastal areas, and public education campaigns aimed at raising awareness about the climate crisis.
Each winning team received funding (to be disbursed in New Leones) for their unique projects: Sierra Eco Heat ($5,000); Movable Ease Sierra Leone ($5,000); Sierra Electronic Technology ($5,000); Girls in Renewable Energy ($5,000); Freetown Media Center ($4,500); Youth Climate Council Freetown ($5,000); Leat Progressive Movement ($5,000); Sierra Eco Shades ($5000); Sound and Art for Change ($4,800); Youth in Action for Social Change ($5,000); Youth in Action for Sustainable Climate ($5,000); Nature for Mangroves ($5,000); Humanity Hub International ($5,000); Student Tourism Hub-Sierra Leone ($5,000); Devine Grace Solutions; ($4,500); Greentech Bioenergy ($5,000); Media Initiative for Climate Change and the Environment($5,000) and Waste Free in 23 ($3,671).
The projects will be implemented over a 6 month period under the supervision of and with technical support and advice from Freetown City Council. 6 of the 18 winners previously received grants in the first funding round, so this second funding enables them to scale up the successful implementation of their climate interventions.
“I am excited to see the innovation and commitment of our youth and the impact of their work in their communities”, remarked the mayor.
