The Cape Verdean Children’s and Youth Parliament, held from 17 to 20 November 2023, was a significant milestone in the participation of young people in politics and the formulation of public policies,” particularly on climate action and children’s rights. With the motto “COMES AND GOES”, the event served as a platform for children and adolescents to express their concerns and propose solutions to the challenges facing Cape Verde, especially with regard to climate change and its impacts on their rights and future.

A promising start

During the Children and Youth Parliament, the young MPs showed remarkable engagement by discussing and drafting a manifesto that highlighted concerns about climate change and the rights of children and adolescents. This manifesto was a wake-up call about how climate change is shaping the country’s present and future, and how policies need to adapt to protect and promote young people’s rights.

However, turning these words into concrete actions proved more challenging than many expected. Six months passed before the manifesto was formally delivered to Cape Verde’s Minister of Agriculture and Environment on 30 May 2024. This inexplicable delay caused perplexity and frustration among many participants. After all, if young people are often considered the “future of the country”, it is to be hoped that their voices are treated with the urgency and seriousness they deserve.

After the manifesto was delivered, the expected changes were slow to materialise. The lack of information about the concrete implementation of the proposals has led to disappointment among the young people involved, who had hoped to see real, tangible changes as a result of their work.

Children’s Academy: A New Opportunity

The Children and Youth Academy, held on the island of May from 22 to 26 July at Horace Silver Secondary School, represented a new opportunity to move forward in the fight against climate change. The event provided a space to continue the work started in Parliament, offering an opportunity to discuss and develop projects aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change.

The testimonies of some of the young people involved reflect a diversity of feelings regarding progress and subsequent action:

• Teresa Garcia noted: “The implementation of the manifesto wasn’t felt very much, but on the other hand, the state was present in the Academy (Ministry of Environment and Education).” The government’s presence was a positive point, but the lack of funding and information about tangible changes in implementation left a feeling of incompleteness.

• Laura Andrade said: “There have been no changes, or if there have been, they have not been felt. More needs to be done to achieve and communicate the desired and achieved results.” For her, the lack of visible progress is a clear indication that more work and commitment is needed to turn the proposals into real results.

• Mohamadu Sanden commented: “There was a workshop on climate change in which communication professionals took part to convey climate information effectively, what we call sensitisation.” Although awareness-raising is a positive step, he realises that the transformation of proposals into practical action is still ongoing.

• Igor Tavares reflected on the motto “TIMES AND VOICES”: “There has been an improvement, but there is always room for improvement. For example, if there were more Children’s and Youth Parliaments throughout the year.” For him, the fact that the Children’s Parliament only takes place once a year limits the opportunities for young people to influence policy on an ongoing basis.

• Dâmaris Tavares, president of the Children’s and Youth Parliament 2023, offered a valuable insight into the progress made since the event: “As far as the implementation of the manifesto is concerned, some of the solutions presented by the parliamentarians, albeit timidly, were already being implemented and continue to be implemented. However, we need to step up our efforts and expand these actions. One solution that stood out was the inclusion of children, adolescents and young people in the formulation of climate policies and decisions, as demonstrated by the Children and Youth Academy and the delivery of the manifesto to the minister.”

Final considerations

The journey from the Children’s Parliament to the Children’s Academy for Climate Action has highlighted both the potential and limitations of youth engagement in politics. The motto “VOICES AND VOICES” remains relevant, but the challenges faced demonstrate that, although young people’s voices are heard, transforming these voices into concrete actions requires continuous effort and genuine commitment from everyone involved. The journey is far from over, and it is imperative that all stakeholders, from young people to those responsible for implementing policies, continue to work together to ensure that promises are kept and that young people’s needs and concerns are properly addressed. We welcome the creation of the Citizens’ Climate Forum and see this as an opportunity to get more involved in climate action.

Authors

Naíma Gomes,
Student in the Children’s Academy for Climate Action

Miccole Miranda,
Student in the Children’s Academy for Climate Action