11-Year-Old Antigua Girl Combats Climate Change as Coastal Steward

Kih'Nyiah McKay, an 11-year-old girl from Antigua, is making a difference in the battle against climate change as one of over 60 girls and young women trained as coastal stewards by the local NGO Adopt a Coastline. The organization's project, which recently received a $100,000 grant from the UN Global Environment Facility, aims to empower women and girls to take on leadership roles in addressing the impacts of climate change in the Caribbean.

As a coastal steward, Kih'Nyiah is tasked with planting indigenous trees to slow coastal erosion, protecting turtle nesting sites, and managing beach bins. "I want to help stop climate change because I don't want anything to happen to my favorite beaches," she said. The project is being expanded to three other small Caribbean islands to extend its impact.

Why this matters: The initiative is part of a broader effort to transform traditional gender roles and encourage more women to get involved in decision-making in Antigua and Barbuda. Empowering the next generation of women with skills like data collection and analysis is crucial in a region where the most severe impacts of climate change are being felt.

In addition to environmental conservation, the project helps the girls earn a modest income by teaching them to craft jewelry, bird boxes, and benches from marine debris. Kaiesha Joseph, a 24-year-old youth parliamentarian who aspires to become Antigua's first female prime minister, is also backing the Adopt a Coastline efforts. "This project will help to show other girls that they can do anything they put their minds to," Joseph said.

The dedication of young stewards like Kih'Nyiah McKay and the support of rising leaders like Kaiesha Joseph highlight the importance of empowering women and girls in the struggle against climate change. As Antigua and Barbuda, and other small Caribbean islands, work to develop sustainably and address the impacts of a changing climate, the leadership and skills of these coastal stewards will be invaluable in protecting the region's future.

Key Takeaways

• 11-year-old Kih'Nyiah McKay is a coastal steward trained to address climate change in Antigua.
• Adopt a Coastline empowers women and girls to take on leadership roles in climate action.
• The project teaches girls skills like data collection and analysis to combat climate change.
• Coastal stewards earn income by crafting jewelry, bird boxes, and benches from marine debris.
• The initiative aims to inspire other girls to take on leadership roles in sustainable development.