Last September, TerrAfrica and Connect4Climate launched the Voices4Climate competition in collaboration with MTV to invite young people to submit photos, videos, music videos, and podcasts that tell powerful climate change and sustainable land and water management stories. The competition kickstarted an interactive dialogue amongst African youth, providing a platform for their voices in the global climate change discussion.

From throughout the continent, we received an overwhelming number of exceptional stories on critical land and water management issues. The team at Connect4Climate, TerrAfrica, and MTV are exceptionally grateful for all who participated. After careful review, the Podcast category jury selected two winners: Pilirani Tambala of Zodiak Broadcasting System in Malawi and Nelson Ndjenga Hakeenah of Hope FM in Kenya. 

Pilirani Tambala's story on Mudi Dam in Blantyre, Malawi:

Nelson Ndjenga Hakeenah's story on adapting to climate change through agroforestry in Kiambu County, Kenya:

Connect4Climate and TerrAfrica partnered with Internews to send the winners to Doha on a special assignment to cover COP 18, where 190 nations met to find solutions to climate change issues. Pilirani and Nelson covered the talks from 30 November to 7 December, including attending an orientation session for journalists covering the climate talks and meeting with Rachel Kyte, Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank. The two also received recognition at an awards ceremony in their honor.

Rachel Kyte, Vice President of Sustainable Development at the World Bank shakes hands with Voices4Climate TerrAfrica Podcast Competition winners Pilirani Tambala and Nelson Ndjenga Hakeenah at COP18 in Doha.

"The interaction we had with fellow journalists, the interviews conducted, and the plenary sessions attended broadened our horizons in covering climate change and environment issues within our countries and across the world," said Pilirani.

They also had an opportunity to give presentations at Climate Communications Day where more than 120 climate communicators gathered to share information on how best to communicate climate-related issues.

"With the information and knowledge gained from Doha, I have planned to do special reports on climate change linked to my home country," Pilirani said.

Voices4Climate TerrAfrica Podcast Competition winners Pilirani Tambala and Nelson Ndjenga Hakeenah attend at a COP18 event in Doha.

Nelson and Pilirani also participated in Forest Day 6, met with representatives of the World Agroforestry Centre, and attended a VIP dinner with representatives of the African Development Bank.

"The Doha activities were eye opening into what goes on during the COPs and I believe that it will be easier for us to cover another COP event," said Nelson, whose story on COP 18 was published on the Earth Journalism Network and in Kenya.