Birthday Trees and a Teen with Big Dreams

Welcome to Season 2 of Good News from Planet Earth! This week, we’re celebrating the next generation of climate leaders - kids who are taking action, speaking up, and making a real difference for the planet.

In today's episode, we meet Leah Namugerwa - a Ugandan climate activist who celebrated her 15th birthday not with cake, but with tree planting. 200 of them, to be exact!

From launching Fridays for Future Uganda to sparking a Birthday Trees movement that’s spreading across East Africa and beyond, Leah is showing the world what youth climate leadership looks like. She’s planting trees, pushing for plastic bag bans, and proving that you don’t need to wait until adulthood to take action.

Young environmental activists
Tree planting for climate action
Birthday Trees movement
Fridays for Future Uganda

If you’re looking for hope, heart, and a powerful reminder that the next generation is already leading the way, then this episode is for you!

This episode is narrated by Joe Passaro for Voiceover for the Planet

Sources & Further Reading

1. Fridays for Future Uganda Official Page
   – Leah is a leading member of the Ugandan chapter of Greta Thunberg’s climate movement.
   
   
2. BBC Africa: “Leah Namugerwa: The teenage climate activist changing Uganda one tree at a time”
   – A great video and article covering her strikes, speeches, and birthday tree-planting campaign.
   
   
3. UNICEF: “Voices of Youth – Leah’s Story”
   – A firsthand write-up by Leah about her activism and goals.
   
   
4. The Guardian: “Why 15-year-old Leah Namugerwa is striking for the climate”
   – Covers her involvement in school strikes and the challenges she faces in Uganda.
   
   
5. CNN International: “Leah Namugerwa is planting trees to save her country”
   – Highlights her birthday trees project and plastic ban advocacy.
   
   

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Good News from Planet Earth is brought to you by Voiceover for the Planet, proud members of 1% for the Planet.

Produced by Ally Murphy and Anne Cloud

Sound Designed and Mixed by Brandon Perry at Sound Nectar Studios

If you'd like a member of Voiceover for the Planet to narrate your project, email [email protected]