Fridays for future shows hope and potential for Africa - Zimbabwean journalist reflects on time with CLEW

Being one of the five fellows selected for the prestigious journalist exchange through International Journalists’ Programmes (IJP) in Germany this year has been surreal experience for me. The fellowship is indeed a gateway to realising maximum potential for any young scribe curious to spread their wings and carve a niche on the global stage. In between the Kodak moments in Berlin and other cities, I have had an opportunity to widen my network and grasp new skills to stay relevant in the dynamic journalism profession. This chapter of my life could actually become a thick book detailing my experiences right from the moment I landed at Tegel Airport, but I have chosen a few of the most impactful ones that will forever remain etched in my mind.

As part of the IJP schedule, the five participants in Berlin tour three German cities in the last week of June before starting internships in different newsrooms. The visit to Hamburg, Cologne and Munich was laden with adventure, discovery and a great reminder that times have changed and human survival depends greatly on how well we adapt.

The fact that the climate is changing is no longer a secret and even some of the greatest sceptics have the increasingly erratic weather patterns to remind them. Our train journey from Hamburg to Cologne was probably one to forget for most who were aboard the Deutsche Bahn on that fateful afternoon. Temperatures soared to record highs while the air conditioning system was failing in some coaches – a dire environment for all. Generally when you hail from the African continent, the heat is not something that fazes you much, but on this particular day, I and my colleagues from Botswana, Kenya, Namibia and South Africa were in agreement that this was nowhere near our normal experiences back home. One can only imagine how unbearable it was for locals who are traditionally accustomed to the not-so-hot summer seasons. This was a direct sign that global warming is a reality and there is a need for all hands on deck worldwide to rein in the rapidly advancing climatic changes.

However, despite these grim realities it is encouraging to see that in the vast farmlands between major cities there are efforts already underway to harness clean energy. Windmills stand tall within the green fields backed by solar panels both atop buildings and suspended on free spaces. There might be no silver bullet to solving the mess human activity has caused through greenhouse gas emissions, but humans can certainly learn from the past and adapt to the current changes. Such ways include taking advantage of the power potential of sun and wind.

The next point seems almost clear for most urban dwellers in German cities: they want cars out of their city roads. The calls are getting louder and after witnessing a bicycle protest in the “traffic jam capital” of Germany, Munich, I can attest that there is immense determination towards achieving this. If attained soon, this would be a fresh breath of air in the highly industrialised country and it should set the tone for developing countries across the globe to follow suit.

This, coupled with the Fridays for Future, appears a timely antidote that can help secure a sustainable life decades from now. With young people here already keeping politicians on their toes over climate action, one can sleep better knowing that young people are finally taking charge and redefining their future. I feel strongly that this green future movement must be replicated back home in Zimbabwe and Africa. Great potential lies in the continent’s young population and there is need for them to also have a say regarding their lives.