Creating change across the world

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Last week we had the honor of meeting a few upcoming leaders from South Africa, including the leaders of three youth-serving nonprofits and a member of the South African parliament. Our visitors came to the U.S. as part of the World Affairs Council‘s International Visitor Leadership Program to learn about youth empowerment and development. On their tour around the country, they stopped in Seattle to learn about Nature Consortium’s programs and share ideas.

As we went around the room sharing our experiences, it was clear we had a lot in common. In two short hours, the conversation covered a wide range of topics related to art, environment, and empowerment. Here are just a few highlights and points of inspiration from the meeting:

Eco-conscious behavior

All of our actions, big and small, have an impact on our environment. In the same way that we have the power to harm the environment, we also have the power to make it better. By educating our communities, we can empower them to make better choices. But making the leap from problem to solution can be tough. Being aware of how our actions affect pollution and climate change is the first step, but the biggest leap comes in changing our behaviors around how we use, reuse, or waste resources in our everyday lives.

So how do you change behavior? We believe in the power of education. In all that we do, we create a culture of awareness and respect for the earth. When our youth, interns, and volunteers grow up in that culture, they bring those values and behaviors home to their families and communities. We’re committed to educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders.

Empowering the Next Generation: Skills and Youth Development

The ambition, power, and potential we see in today’s youth is inspiring. All of us work with the goal of educating and empowering youth to discover their own voices, become leaders, enrich communities, and change the world. We’re committed to creating safe, positive spaces for youth to learn and grow. We were surprised to learn that in South Africa, the term “youth” refers to people ages 14-35! By that definition, our own NatureC staff is almost entirely youth, which lends a whole new perspective on the subject. While we are inspiring young changemakers in Seattle, we are also young changemakers ourselves. And as Nature Consortium turns 15 years old in October, we are even more aware of our potential.

And in South Africa, our guests have been making their own waves:

Mr. Tanswell Carl Jansen – Manager, Heal the Hood

Mr. Mduduzi Comfort Manana – Member, Parliament of South Africa 

Ms. Mandisa Mogola – Chief Executive Officer (CEO)/Founder, Gugu Dlamini Memorial Centre

Ms. Nosipho Sithole – Graduate Program Officer, Student Sponsorship Programme (SSP)