From the Margins to the Frontlines: Climate Justice for Turkana’s Forgotten Youth

Hello everyone,

I’m Eva Ekwom, a 23-year-old ASALs advocate, climate and gender activist from Turkana County, Kenya — one of the regions hardest hit by climate change. I’m the founder of Liwan Shanga, a social enterprise and community initiative that empowers women and girls through sustainable beadwork and advocacy.

In Turkana, climate change is not a distant issue — it’s a daily crisis. Girls drop out of school to fetch water. Families walk for days in search of food. Youth, especially women, are being pushed deeper into poverty.

But we’re not just victims. We are leaders.

This space is for us to:

• Share stories from the margins — because voices from ASALs matter.
• Discuss climate adaptation strategies that work for remote regions like Turkana.
• Explore how young people can influence policy and push for just, inclusive climate solutions.
• Exchange ideas on economic empowerment, water access, and education as climate solutions for pastoralist communities.

I’d love to hear from other youth working in fragile ecosystems or underserved communities — what’s working, what’s not, and how can we collaborate across borders?

Let’s push this conversation beyond boardrooms — to the heart of the climate crisis.