The rampant increase of flooding in the Buea Municipality and the lack of data from the exact flooding areas prompted Meg Wah to take great strides to mitigate flood occurrences in the identified high-risk zones through the Echo-Tech Climate Innovators project. At Meg Wah (My Earth), we believe in equipping the next generation with the tools and knowledge to combat climate change and build resilient communities. According to the Founder and Executive director of Meg Wah (My Earth) Mr. Ako Peter Agbor, ‘‘our main goal was to establish a sustainable platform for youth involvement in proactive flood management and climate resilience efforts. By nurturing a culture of environmental stewardship and community engagement among young residents, we aimed to create a legacy of youth-led initiatives that contribute to long-term disaster risk reduction and environmental sustainability in the South West Region of Cameroon. Through our Echo-Tech Climate Innovators project, we empowered 60 children aged 12 to 18 in and around Buea to utilize ArcGIS technology to identify flood-prone areas in their communities’’

Over eight (8) weeks, participants engaged in intensive, hands-on training sessions focused on GIS mapping and flood risk assessment. With newfound skills and a passion for environmental action, these young changemakers joined the Meg Wah team to plant over 200 flood-resistant trees in the Bokwai community, located in the Fako Division of the South West Region, Cameroon. These trees, carefully selected for their resilience, including Tectona grandis and Terminalia catappa, will help reduce the impact of future floods and restore degraded areas. The hands-on activity by the empowered youth served as a tangible demonstration of their commitment to community well-being.

Beyond the field, our young environmental ambassadors took their message to the airwaves, present on CBS Radio and Hi Television Buea to raise awareness about flood risks and share insights from the project. They also had the opportunity to present their findings, recommendations and flood mitigation strategies to representatives of the Buea Council. By actively involving the local authorities in the project, we aimed to ensure that the insights and solutions proposed by the youth are considered in the town planning and disaster risk reduction initiatives.

We are grateful to our funders, the New England Biolabs Foundation and Atlas Corps, for supporting this transformative initiative.