YCA at the Changemakers Conference
On 17 July 2024 members of the Youth Climate Ambassadors for Wales (YCA) participated in the Changemakers Conference hosted by the Welsh Centre for International Affairs at the Temple of Peace and Health in Cardiff. The YCA are a youth-led group supported by Climate Cymru to represent youth voices across Wales.
Changemakers is a Global Citizenship project, funded by the British Council, that seeks to give learners and young people the opportunity to think critically on global issues, before planning and taking action on collectively to create positive change. Every year, WCIA host a conference to celebrate the achievements of schools and young people taking part in the project.
During the conference in July the YCA participated in workshops on slow fashion with Ophelia Dos Santos and listened to presentations from Environment Platform Wales and the Senedd.
The YCA hold an interactive stall during the marketplace session and engaged young people from primary and secondary schools to share what matters to them. The students voiced their thoughts on recycling, litter, biodiversity and diversity.
The highlight of the conference for the YCA were their speeches. The chair, Yolay, of the YCA encouraged all young people to use their power to take climate action and invited them to join the consultation group of the YCA, the Vice Chair, Arthur, explained the connection between climate change and children’s rights, Emily spoke about her personal journey from taking part in bird watches to becoming an active YCA and Freya, one of the youngest members of the YCA spoke about the negative impacts of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and demanded better and more sustainable solutions.
If you are interested to know more about the Young Climate Ambassadors for Wales please get in touch with us on yca@wcia.org.uk
