Youth are being equipped with skills and knowledge about climate change and its effects, enabling them to take responsible action within their communities.

The Samoa Red Cross Society is leading the charge in climate action education with its youth-focused programme YADAPT, short for Youth Adaptation on Developing Action Plan for Tomorrow.

Facilitator Maseiga Sefo said the programme is very important for youth.

“Its main goal is to help young people understand climate change and its impact, and to train them with practical skills so they can actively contribute to reducing its effects in their villages and communities," she said.

Recognising the essential role youth play in community resilience, the Samoa Red Cross has partnered with global supporters, including the Red Cross of Japan and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), to deliver this initiative throughout Samoa, with a strong focus on church-based youth groups.

The programme recently made an impact with youth at the Assembly of God Siusega, where the project focused on reducing plastic burning, a major contributor to harmful emissions. 

In Iva, Savai’i, the Catholic Church youth launched a vegetable garden project as their adaptation plan, addressing climate-related threats to local food security.

“As we all know, vegetable gardens are affected by climate change,” she said. 

“Their project is meant to help the church and the wider village use land more sustainably.”

The YADAPT team continues their outreach this week, with upcoming training sessions at EFKS Lalomalava on July 10–11, followed by Seventh Day Adventist youth in Samalaeulu on July 23–24.

“We are prioritizing Savai’i because it is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” Sefo said.

“We want to ensure young people across the Big Island are equipped to respond.”

This grassroots approach, targeting youth leadership within church communities, reflects the Red Cross’ belief that climate action must begin at the local level, and that empowering young people is essential for building long-term community resilience.