Building Youth Media Influence Capacity in Tanzania

Article by Júlia de Marins, Learning Coordinator for the Next Generation Climate Advisory Board

Two Black people sit together on a couch, facing each other. On the left, a Black man holds a microphone up to the Black woman on the right. He is looking at her with an engaged expression, while she is in the middle of speaking. — YSO trainee Abdushakur Mrisho interviewing specialists for a climate and environmental education program. © YSO Tanzania

The media plays a crucial role in expanding climate education and driving action. Just as important is the work of shifting dominant narratives—moving beyond technical reporting to center justice, lived experience, and community-led solutions. It is fundamental that the perspectives, needs, and solutions of communities directly affected by climate change have representation in climate media—yet they are often the communities who have the least access. Recognizing this, the Youth Survival Organization (YSO) in Tanzania creates access to media spaces and supports young people to amplify climate messaging and reach students, teachers, and the public—enhancing climate literacy and inspiring action. Building leadership and investing in the skills of young climate groups is a critical investment in our collective future—an investment that Global Greengrants Fund is proud to make.

In 2024, with support from Global Greengrants through the Next Generation Climate Board (NGCB), YSO Tanzania launched the Media4Climate Advocacy Initiative, a capacity-building program that equips young media professionals with the skills to report on climate issues and advocate for solutions through narrative and storytelling.

The program featured an intensive two-day workshop at Don Bosco VTC in Oysterbay, Dar es Salaam, bringing together 30 participants from diverse media backgrounds—journalists, editors, and content creators. A significant portion of attendees came from rural areas and Indigenous communities, boosting the skills of those most affected by the climate crisis.

Expert facilitators led sessions on climate communication, storytelling techniques, and crafting compelling narratives in climate journalism. To put their learning into action, participants took part in a climate-themed article writing competition, encouraging innovative reporting and expanding media coverage of climate issues.

A Black woman with a headscarf stands in the center of a room with a microphone, in the middle of speaking. In the background, workshop participants stand and sit, many looking at the woman with the microphone, and many smiling. In the background are banners that read "Youth Empowerment through Health & Safe Waste Management Project." — YSO trainee Asma Kulaga during a workshop with WORF © YSO Tanzania

Impact Beyond Numbers

The 30 young media trainees gained essential skills in climate reporting, learning how to present complex climate science in a way that is accessible and engaging. They also gained confidence to seek global climate advocacy opportunities.

Some standout achievements of attendees since the training include:

A trainee organized a knowledge-sharing session with co-workers at Tanzania Standard Newspapers to present insights gained during the Media4Climate program.
As a Capital Radio anchor, a trainee facilitated the integration of an education program on climate and environmental conservation in June 2024, ahead of World Environment Day.
In partnership with Women in Recycling Foundation (WORF), a trainee hosted a capacity-building workshop on climate education.
A trainee attended COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2024, participating in negotiations, panel discussions, and bilateral engagements.
Another trainee took part in a media capacity building session in Cairo, Egypt, in October 2024.

As seen in these examples, the training impacted more than just the youth who participated—inspired by their training, several media trainees organized local events to educate their communities on climate change, adapting and sharing the knowledge gained during the workshop. This outreach expanded YSO’s influence and fostered climate action across multiple regions.

By investing in youth storytelling and leadership, YSO Tanzania creates pathways for young people’s long-term engagement in global climate leadership and for young people to bring their communities into that engagement. In 2025, the program continues with monthly webinars and the launch of a second cohort of new trainees.

Two people, a brown-skinned woman and Black man, pose together for the camera, shaking hands. On the table in front of them are Egyptian and Tanzanian flags. — YSO trainee Hamad Rashid participating in a media capacity-building session in Cairo, Egypt. © YSO Tanzania

Why Invest in Youth Capacity Building?

Building the capacity of young people enables them to develop skills, share knowledge, and access resources to lead climate action effectively. The Next Generation Climate Board at Global Greengrants recognizes that supporting youth with inclusive storytelling tools and effective communication strategies is essential to advancing narrative change and ensuring diverse experiences shape the climate agenda.

Investing in young people also strengthens their ability to transition into advocacy and campaigning—or even scale up to form national networks. By equipping young leaders with media and storytelling skills, initiatives like Media4Climate create a ripple effect, where youth voices influence policy, inspire communities, and drive meaningful climate action.