00:00Seen from above, this is increasingly what the Columbia looks like.
00:07Solar modules on roofs are no longer a rarity, but it is rarely women who install them.
00:13Fatun Jai is a pioneer in her field and wants to lead by example.
00:18Women can contribute in the fight of climate change because we are the energy users at home.
00:24For example, I will take an example of myself to become a solar installer because it's a men-dominated area.
00:31And then we believe that it's only men that can do it.
00:34And I said big no to that Fatun is a woman and she can do it.
00:38And also training more women on this will also help us to fight on climate change.
00:45And this is where she passes on Hannah Ledge.
00:49The solar installation training program both empowers the women and promotes renewable energy,
00:55helping communities combat climate change.
01:02This school plays a key role when you come to mitigation on climate change.
01:08One, we empower the local communities.
01:10Like for example, we equip them with the training, that's the skills that we have,
01:15that's renewable energy, for them not to use fossil fuel.
01:18Because we all know that what fossil fuel do to the climate change.
01:22We also train them to become a responsible person when you come to energy.
01:27Education is key to raising awareness of the effects of climate change
01:32and the need to care for the environment.
01:34It's never too early to start.
01:37I want to ask again, like I said, I'll be asking a lot of questions.
01:40What is climate change?
01:43Environmental activist Memo Najabi runs a special class in eco-education
01:48at this primary school in Abuko, near the capital of Banjiro.
01:53The students are eager to learn the basics.
01:56The climate issue or the environmental issue have become an emergency.
02:00But there's still a lot of gaps because they still do not really understand
02:03some of the problems and some of the issues.
02:06And at this stage, they should have been more prepared.
02:09So that is why us coming to do some of these extra sessions,
02:13it helps to bridge this gap for them.
02:16The class also looks after fruit trees in the school's courtyard.
02:21A lesson that teaches the students to act responsibly for future generations.
02:26If the trees are cared for properly,
02:29future students will enjoy more shade and get to harvest the fruit too.
02:33A larger scale tree planting project is underway on Banjil beach.
02:39Its driving force is Fatu Jeng, another key player in environmental activism in Degambia.
02:4514,000 palm and baobab trees are planted on the city's shoreline.
02:51If the sea rises from one metre, we will inundate.
02:56Banjil is a city that is very vulnerable to rising sea level.
02:59And trees like coconut and baobab trees are actually trees that are very important
03:03or very crucial in helping at least cope the coastal erosion.
03:07So the trees actually serve as a resistance or at least a barrier
03:11to actually help the city cope our challenge of rising sea level.
03:15Not too far away from the beach.
03:18In Bakao, women are also spearheading another eco-friendly project.
03:23Bakao Women's Garden is an agricultural cooperative
03:27that was established more than 30 years ago.
03:30Over the past years, the project has moved away from conventional methods
03:35towards organic farming.
03:37We cut out using chemicals because it destroys the products.
03:48Secondly, it reduces the fertility of the soil
03:52and increases the amount of salt in the soil.
03:55Now we use organic waste instead of chemicals.
03:59This organic granite waste was given to us by the Department of Agriculture
04:05and we use it with animal manure from our homes.
04:16The Women's Garden is a unique project that provides organic food
04:20and aims to educate people about the benefits of organic farming,
04:24highlighting the advantages for people and nature,
04:28as well as the key role played by women.
04:31Our means of sustenance and livelihood is dependent on the natural environment.
04:35So that means when climate disasters occur,
04:37our means of sustenance as women is actually going to be significantly affected.
04:41In addition to that, in our side of the world,
04:43we have seen how it's mainly a patriarchal society
04:47and women do not still have access or sufficient access to resources
04:52that will help them adapt to the impacts of climate change.
04:54Even in terms of early warning system as well,
04:57the level of resource access is different.
05:00In terms of technology access, it's also different.
05:03Despite this inequality in many areas,
05:07women in the Gambia are on the forefront of building a more sustainable,
05:12environmentally responsible and resilient feature for the small country.
05:17They are making a big difference and hope to inspire others with their initiatives and ideas
05:25in every corner of the country and beyond.
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