Youth delegates reflect on COP17

In November and December 2011, WAGGGS sent a delegation of girls to the UN's COP17 climate change conference. Now, the delegates reflect on what WAGGGS achieved.

Tiffany Dick (South Africa), Ashley Geddes (Canada), Esther Ellie Amakyi (Ghana) and Beatrice Omweri (Kenya) were among the 17 youth delegates chosen from 13 different countries to represent WAGGGS at COP17 in Durban, South Africa.

Tiffany has written a blog on what she has learned about people's attitudes toward taking personal responsibility for climate change.

"One thing that Girl Guiding and COP17 have taught me is that every little bit matters," she writes. "It frustrates me when people give up on good habits such as recycling just because their neighbour is not doing the same."

Ashley has written a blog on her experience as a WAGGGS delegate, which she says was intense but a great learning experience. She writes: "I realize now, even more than ever, that the youth are very important in the negotiations and must be considered ... youth and Girl Guides are a part of the solution."

Esther's blog explores the benefits of attending a major international event like COP that pushed her beyond her comfort zone. She writes that she has gained knowledge and will speak out more loudly in future as a result.

"The different cultures, the advocacy lectures and study and extra knowledge from different countries made me very glad to be part of the 2011 delegation to attend COP17," says Esther.

Finally, Beatrice has written a report on the delegation's activity, entitled Working together: Saving tomorrow today. She reports that the WAGGGS youth delegates left their mark at COP17, and "showed that girls and young women are agents of change".