Teenager Teaches Peers About Climate Change Using Sign Language

Bridget Chanda, an 18 year old, interprets lessons on climate change via sign language,  at a school for pupils with special needs.

An inspirational young woman, Bridget is self-taught in sign language, and aids the sessions of Elizabeth Motale, who teaches young people in schools about initiatives to help save the planet, and what role they can play as individuals.

Sign language is not yet a recognised language in Zambia, however the government has moved towards ensuring its recognition, and encouraging its use for education about climate change.

On 16th May, Elizabeth Motale said, “I deliver these sessions to my community members about climate change. Whenever they faced challenges in terms of rainfall, I taught them how to reserve water so they could use [it] at that particular moment. I faced some challenges in terms of signing for them, but Bridget usually helps me when I’m delivering sessions She usually signs for them.”

Helen Chandwe, an enterprise development manager for female education said there was much more that needed to be done to make climate change education accessible to young people with special needs across the country, “we’ve got areas where you might have people with special needs, but no one there to really interpret that information, especially at the community level.”

Bridget Chanda’s aim is to help her peers to understand the severe effects of climate change in Africa, and through interpreting the information, include them in the future generation which will drive the fight to minimise the effects and consequences. Hopefully more students will follow Bridget’s admirable example, demonstrating a deep sense of altruism and community which will be one of the strongest forces against future challenges.