Bristol Somali youth voice work with young people predominantly from minority ethnic communities who are underrepresented in participation of climate change dialogue and using public transport.
Bristol Somali youth voice (BSYV) provides different programs to inspire more young people on active transport to cycle, walk and use public transport to cut down and reduce greenhouse emissions in the area. We also provide educational workshops to improve understanding of young people about climate change and its impact in our area.
Mohamed A Sayaqle, Chair of Bristol Somali youth voice said:
“We work with young people who live in most deprived and polluted areas of the city and still underrepresented in climate change dialogue, Bristol Somali youth voice aim want to inspire more young people on active transport and improve their knowledge about climate change, to understand individual responsibility to mitigate climate change and environmental inequality in our area. We want to shift the dialogue from policy level to grass root discussion to better adopt and mitigate it’s impact at community level. We also want to inspire more young people on active transport, walk, cycle and use public transport, we offer educational workshops and cycling sessions to inspire behavioural change and to encourage people to reduce habit of driving and walk/cycle, this will bring both health and environmental merits”
Ahmed Ismail, young man from Barton hill who work as youth worker for Bristol Somali youth voice said:
“We want to inspire more young people to change driving habits, and start cycling, walking and using public transport, this will have both health and environmental merits, we also want young people from minority backgrounds to be part of the climate change dialogue, climate change is every one’s problem”.
Mr Kayse, participant said,” I live in Barton hill, I am happy to be part of these sessions, cycling is good exercise, it improve my cycling skills and also it was opportunity to stretch my legs and improve my knowledge about public transport and impact of climate change, climate change is important topic for young people and we should be part of the dialogue, to day I have learned what I need to do personally to tackle down climate change and environmental inequality.