Three hours. That’s how long it took for the sea to clear away everything in its path. But it didn’t just drown houses; it drowned dreams, hopes, and aspirations. Opposite the stretch of dark sea where submerged houses once stood, are families now seeking refuge in a church constructed with aluminium sheets, turning it into a makeshift shelter. Adjacent to the church, tents form temporary homes for hundreds of people whose lives have been overturned by rising sea levels, barely providing any warmth or safety.
This is Salakope-Amutsinu in Ghana’s Volta Region, a town caught between the sea and the lagoon.
Up north from the Volta Region, a young traditional leader rallies his peers into a pit. Their hoes strike the parched ground as their backs bear the weight of the scorching sun. “The rains are coming soon,” they say, more as a plea than a prediction. They are digging a new well, trying to make room for the little water they hope the sky will give. Rainfall patterns have shifted drastically, and the last well they dug ran dry months ago after sharing with their families and livestock.
This is Gbung, in the Savannah Region of Ghana.
Two different communities, on opposite ends of the country. One is overwhelmed by too much water. The other, devastated by too little. But both are bound together by one reality: the worsening impacts of climate change.
Training in the Midst of Crisis
In Amutsinu, where the first in-person training, convened by the Youth Bridge Foundation, was held on “Strengthening Youth Capacity in Climate Change Adaptation”, we struggled to explain the concept of “climate change” to the locals because it sounded foreign. But the irony was impossible to miss because the effects were all around us.
The path leading to the training center had dried water trails; visible reminders that the building itself risks being submerged if the lagoon continues its current trajectory. For many participants, climate change was not a scientific concept; it was a lived experience.
With support from the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), the training brought together young people, community leaders, fisherfolk, and locals from the community. The in-person training focused on:
- Understanding climate change and climate variability
- Local drivers of vulnerability
- The role of youth in climate adaptation
- Strengthening leadership and community action
Participants also shared personal stories of loss, migration, damaged livelihoods, and genuine fear for the future. But they also shared a willingness to lead change.
Championing Local Adaptation Strategies
To build on the momentum of the first training, we convened a second, virtual session themed “Curating Local Adaptation Strategies and Championing Youth to Lead”. This brought together participants from across Ghana who were eager to design locally grounded solutions. This session guided them through:
- Identifying practical adaptation measures
- Mapping community environmental risks
- Documenting indigenous coping strategies
- Developing action plans for community-based adaptation
Even online, it was evident that young people are ready to lead, and they know exactly where to start. With the right guidance and support, they are capable of developing and implementing local adaptation strategies
Exploring New Frontiers: The Role of Social Media in Climate Adaptation
To further broaden the conversation, our third virtual session focused on “The Role of Social Media in Climate Adaptation.”
This webinar explored how social media networks can amplify climate messaging, mobilise local action, and bridge the gap between affected communities and national decision-makers. The session was facilitated by Film Director and Content Creator, Louis Lamis. Louis harnesses the power of storytelling to amplify climate reaction. His documentary on “Nexus between Climate-induced Migration, Peace and Security”, produced for the Foundation, won Best Documentary at the 2024 Ghana Movie Awards. During the session, participants learnt:
- How social media can support early warning and preparedness
- Storytelling strategies for climate advocacy
- The role of youth content creators in shaping public understanding
- How local voices can influence national adaptation agendas
- Practical tips for producing climate content that drives engagement
The session underscored an important truth that while some communities battle physical isolation, social media provides a powerful space where their stories, insights, and solutions can travel far beyond their immediate environment.
Looking Ahead
These three trainings mark the beginning of deeper community engagement under this GCA-supported initiative. In both Amutsinu and Gbung, climate change is not theoretical. It is immediate. It is urgent. And it is reshaping lives.
But the young people who are at the forefront of its ravaging effects are stepping forward and are poised to take positive action
We are committed to nurturing their leadership, supporting their ideas and elevating community voices in national climate discourse. The future of adaptation in Ghana must be locally informed, youth-driven, and community-led because #youthmatter.
Between abundance and scarcity, between the sea and the drought, between loss and resilience, youth are emerging as the bridge.
Click here to download the Youth Climate Handbook