Hot and Happening:
Child Climate Champions

In Alytus, children participated in activities based on the “Speaking Minds” methodology, went on nature trips, followed by meetings and discussions with community members and local decision-makers. In this way, the children gathered ideas, learned to argue, and spoke boldly about what matters to them.

Children, together with teachers and the community, created and implemented climate action plans. They discussed with decision-makers how to realistically implement the proposed ideas, and some initiatives turned into tangible changes at school and the day center.

At the conference “Children Fight Climate Change” held in Vilnius on May 22–23, schoolchildren from Alytus presented their climate action plans and shared what they had already changed in their daily lives. Minister of Environment Povilas Poderskis and representatives of other organizations caring for environmental protection, nature, and children’s rights came to listen to the children’s ideas.

On the first day, the children spoke about the causes of climate change, waste sorting, forest conservation, and shared practical activities: organizing trips to nature and garbage collection hikes, creating posters about sorting, and conducting lessons for younger children about recycling. The second day was dedicated to creative tasks: children created a game about climate change, planned training for adults, and prepared key messages used later in advocacy activities.

On September 30, the event “Rising Voices: Children Lead Climate Action” took place at the European Parliament, where 15 young climate leaders from various European countries shared their experiences and solutions with Members of the European Parliament and representatives of the European Commission. The children spoke about how climate change affects their daily lives and provided concrete recommendations on adaptation, climate education, and sustainable food systems.

The event was co-organized with Members of the European Parliament Lena Schilling and Annalisa Corrado. The conversation was moderated by Save the Children Europe representatives, and European Commission officials also participated in the discussion, responding to the children’s proposals. The children’s message was clear: climate policy must be created with children, not just about children.

More project material at the European level (children’s messages, recommendations, research insights) can be found here:

At the invitation of Member of the Seimas Jurgita Sejonienė, the children organized an exhibition at the Seimas Visitor Center and presented their ideas publicly. The most important part was the interactive training conducted by the children for Seimas members and ministry representatives, during which politicians discussed climate change and the meaning of children’s participation together with the children.

The children applied the experience gained in Vilnius at the local level – they conducted training for decision-makers in the city of Alytus. The project cycle ended with a cozy closing ceremony at the school and day center: results were celebrated, letters of appreciation were presented, and future plans were discussed.