The starting point
Many residents had seen wet and dry bins but did not know what went where. Few understood how mixed waste, burning plastic and blocked drains link to flooding and disease.
What youth leadership made possible
Mohammed made waste simple and relatable, using games, stories and visuals in spaces people already trust. Participants began to see segregation as daily climate action rather than a rule.
Meeting people where they are
Through summer camps, government schools and earlier climate work, Mohammed had seen that people were eager to learn but lacked clear guidance on everyday actions. In YCAL he trained in budgeting, communication, advocacy and hackathon-style design, and learned to plan projects and create posters.
He ran sessions at mosques, madrasas, temples, churches and youth meetings, with games, storytelling, quizzes, mapping and demonstrations, and designed a two-hour session for madrasa students. He and his team made simple posters on segregation and cleanliness.
From volunteer to leader
Mohammed grew from a concerned volunteer into a youth climate leader who designs his own learning modules, leads sessions on his own and speaks with confidence to diverse groups.
“I realised that when people understand waste in a simple way, they are ready to change their daily habits.”Mohammed, Youth Climate Leader