A young activist in Madagascar is teaching her community about smart farming techniques in the face of potentially devastating climate change.
Hasina Rakotondraina is part of JADD Madagascar, a youth-led organisation that encourages sustainable development in her homeland.
This includes the promotion of ‘Climate Smart Agriculture’, which helps Madagascan farmers manage extreme weather events.
“Ensuring food security is important, as many people suffer from famine in Madagascar after extreme weather, including cyclones, drought and floods,” Hasina said.
She explained that the JADD programme covers agroecology – putting ecological concepts into practice through farming – and tree-planting sessions.
It has also built a database using local farmers’ knowledge to help with predicting climate patterns in different parts of Madagascar.
Hasina, who received training under the LIFEE scheme run by the Centre Arrupe Madagascar – a Jesuit Missions’ partner organisation – has also stressed the importance of engaging young people when it comes to the environment.
She has taken part in several sessions to raise awareness of the threat posed by climate change, and what can be done to address this.
“We work with young people to raise youth voices on climate justice and climate education, and to organise climate events,” she said.
“We need to take action today to save our planet for future generations.”
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