Cercle des Jeunes Ambassadeurs du Climat
Region
Africa
Country
Congo (DR)
Flyway
East Africa – Central Asia flyway
Initiative
WLI Africa
About
Name of organisation
Cercle des Jeunes Ambassadeurs du Climat, abbreviated to CJAC.
Funding support
Travail pour la Forêt (TF), Agronomes Débouts pour la Nature (ADN).
Number of staff
6
Number of visitors per year
700
Overall aims of the centre
CJAC's main objective
To contribute to climate protection and the preservation of biodiversity and the environment by mobilising young people on the challenges of climate change in order to save humanity by establishing harmony between man and the planet.
Specific objectives
To ensure the management and rational use of wetlands while enhancing the ecosystem services they provide
To inform, raise awareness and educate the public about climate change, climate protection and the preservation of biodiversity
Strengthen the initiatives and efforts of young people in the field of sustainable management of the climate, the environment and biodiversity by developing more ecological and resilient approaches in the face of climate change
Promote and disseminate good practices in favour of the climate and the environment by strengthening community resilience to the effects of climate change
Mobilise young people to develop mitigation and adaptation mechanisms to deal with the negative impacts of global warming caused by human activities
Contribute to the discussions leading up to the Conference of Parties (COP) and the Youth Conference (COY), and take an active part in them.
Develop climate-smart agriculture by improving agricultural production while respecting the ecological balance
Developing the REDD+ process while stepping up the fight against deforestation and bush fires for the sustainable management of forest ecosystems
Combat water and air pollution, wildlife crime and the extinction of threatened and endangered species to conserve biodiversity as effectively as possible.
Mission
To make the voices of young people heard and to help them take action to protect the future of our planet in the face of the effects of climate change, while strengthening their actions at local, national and international level;
Vision
To transform young people into true climate ambassadors around the world for a more liveable, healthy and equitable planet.
Description of the centre
The Cercle des Jeunes Ambassadeurs du Climat (CJAC) carries out its actions around the Kahuzi-Biega National Park and the Itombwe Nature Reserve (Paysage Itombwe-Kahuzi Biega) in the province of South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. At present, CJAC is focusing on four wetlands in the province: Lake Kivu; Lake Tanganyika; Lake Lungwe; The Ruzizi River.
Work Areas
Main CEPA work area
Information, communication, awareness-raising, education on climate change and the environment in schools, religious, private and public environments;
Commemorating international wetlands days
Organisation of guided tours of target wetlands in the province of South Kivu: Lake Tanganyika, Lake Kivu, Lake Lungwe (a small mountain lake located in the Itombwe Nature Reserve) and the Ruzizi River (spillway from Lake Kivu into Lake Tanganyika in the province of South Kivu);
Organisation of wetland restoration activities;
Supervision of young people through sport, leisure and ecotourism to educate them about climate change, nature and the environment;
Organisation of school nature and environment days;
School feeding;
Creation and installation of Climate Ambassadors clubs in schools and religious establishments;
Organisation of hygiene and sanitation activities in schools, religious, private and public environments.
Creation and supervision of nature-loving children's clubs;
Organisation of guided visits to protected areas
Organisation of inter-partner school competitions on climate, wetland conservation and the environment.
Organisation of seminars, forums, conferences/debates on the involvement of young people in wetland conservation, climate change, nature conservation and environmental management.
Organisation of climate walks
Production and distribution of awareness-raising and information materials and tools on wetland conservation, climate change and environmental issues.
Waste management in school, religious, private and public environments;
Reforestation in school, religious and public settings
Screening of films on climate change and environmental education through nature;
Installation of vegetable gardens in schools
Participatory sketches, spots, games and songs to raise awareness
Radio broadcasts on climate change;
Local, national and international partnerships;
Support for community development projects.
Top three successes
1. Mapping work on Lake Lungwe carried out by CJAC: A database was set up and a study was carried out, leading to the publication of an article on Traditional Knowledge and Practices versus Biodiversity Conservation in Protected Areas: The Case of the Local Populations of Lake Lungwe, Eastern DR Congo.
2. The celebration of World Wetlands Day by CJAC, 2023 edition, which saw the active participation of young people: As part of the awareness-raising campaign on World Wetlands Day on 02 February 2023, we produced 3 radio programmes on wetlands conservation with the theme: "the contribution of wetlands to socio-economic development in the DRC in general and in South Kivu in particular". CJAC produced another radio programme on 21 March 2023 to commemorate International Forest Day, with the theme "Forests and health". CJAC also organised a day of reflection for young people in the town of Bukavu in South Kivu province on the conservation of wetlands and the protection of nature in the DRC. Congo.
3. The Cercle des Jeunes Ambassadeurs du Climat (CJAC), with technical support from Climate Vigil, organised an awareness-raising workshop for young people and other sections of the public on 06 November 2022 as part of the Climate Vigil campaign in support of COP27. This workshop saw the active participation of young people and other sections of the public, who committed to taking concrete action to combat climate change.
Top three challenges
1. The development of community tourism in Katogota on the Ruzizi plain to visit the hippopotamuses: The Ruzizi river, on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi, is home to hippopotamuses. These species are currently highly endangered and live in conflict with the local population. The failure of the local population to respect the ban on occupying the land closest to the river has led to human-hippo conflicts, and cohabitation is becoming increasingly difficult. This occupation of the land closest to the river leads to the destruction of the hippopotamus' habitat and the criminalisation of this species.
2. The creation and installation of an environmental education centre in Katogota on the Ruzizi plain: The installation of this environmental education centre, once completed, will strengthen the protection of the hippopotamuses of the Ruzizi river.
3. Mapping the wetlands in and around the Itombwe Nature Reserve and continuing research on Lake Lungwe.
The main challenges linked to these projects are financial: the Cercle des Jeunes Ambassadeurs du Climat (CJAC) is currently faced with a lack of financial resources to carry out these projects.
Expertise
Interpretation techniques
Creating signage; Using audio-visual tools
Visitor centres
Managing / creating habitat; Running a visitor centre
Participation
Engaging hard-to-reach groups; Engaging young people; Engaging the local community; Working with volunteers
Education and communication
Early years education; Delivering adult education; Working with primary schools; Lobbying / running campaigns; Working with secondary schools
General
Project planning.
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