Growing Change: How Meraki Action Initiative is Empowering Youth Through the Green Teen Club

This week, I had the privilege of reading Meraki Action Initiative’s 2024 Annual Report, shared by their Executive Director, Brenda. As I turned the pages, I found myself deeply moved — tears in my eyes, but also hope in my heart. What Meraki is doing in Northern Uganda is nothing short of transformative.

Planting Seeds of Change

Among all the achievements, one initiative stood out above the rest: the Green Teen Club. At first glance, it looks like a school-based climate action project. But in reality, it is so much more.

Through tree planting, orchard creation, and climate education, the Green Teen Club is equipping children with knowledge and skills while nurturing their love for nature. It’s teaching them that they are not only learners in the classroom, but also stewards of their communities and protectors of the planet.

Imagine the impact when young people grow up seeing sustainability as a way of life — where fruit trees planted in their schoolyard become food for families, where environmental responsibility is part of daily routines, and where children lead the way in building climate-resilient communities.

This model is powerful. It deserves to be mirrored across nations.

Beyond Climate Action: Building Resilience

The Green Teen Club is just one of Meraki’s achievements in 2024. Their impact has touched thousands of lives:

• 📚 Community libraries provided over 300 learners with vital reading materials, sparking a culture of literacy.

• 🎓 School re-enrollment programs encouraged boys who had dropped out during COVID to return to education, with 8 committing to restart their studies.

• 👩🏾‍🦱 An Alumni Program reached 600+ learners, offering mentorship, career guidance, scholastic support, and menstrual kits for girls.

• 🤝 Partnerships with Kole District and Africa ELI expanded opportunities and strengthened community resilience.

These are not small wins. They are stepping stones toward systemic change in a region where challenges remain urgent: teenage pregnancy affects 28% of girls in Kole and nearly 4,700 cases are reported annually in Lira, while school dropout rates hover between 30–40%Statistics for lira and Kole.

Why This Matters to All of Us

The challenges Meraki is tackling in Uganda are not theirs alone. Teenage pregnancy, school dropouts, gender inequality, and climate change are global issues. What makes Meraki’s work extraordinary is that they are addressing them in an integrated way — linking education, empowerment, and environment into one powerful approach.

Their Green Teen Club is not just about trees. It is about hope, dignity, and creating communities where every child has the chance to thrive.

A Call to Action

At The Kind Power, we believe in amplifying stories like this because they remind us that change is possible when compassion meets action. Meraki’s work is a blueprint for what can be done when we invest in the potential of young people.

Let’s celebrate their achievements. Let’s learn from their model. And let’s ask ourselves: how can we bring a little more of the “Green Teen spirit” into our own communities?

🌱 Because when we empower children to nurture their world, we plant the seeds of a kinder, stronger, and more sustainable future.