“Before I came to Thailand for regional training, our schools in Bangladesh were closed due to the extreme heatwave,” says Jannatul Sayma. “After seven days, the schools reopened – eight people died that day. Teachers, students, security guards. Because of the heat. That never used to happen in Bangladesh.”
The climate crisis is no longer just a looming threat, it is already a reality. Severe heatwaves with temperatures of up to 45 degrees hit Southeast Asia hard in April and May this year. The perceived temperature is much higher – more than 50 degrees Celsius. This is life-threatening for humans and animals. Hundreds of deaths have been reported, the heat has caused crop damage and millions of pupils have been unable to go to school.
The time to act is now. That is why Jannatul Sayma (23) and Amena Twoaseen (22) are environmental activists in their home country of Bangladesh. The two young women know that A world powered entirely by renewable energy is not a utopia, but a necessity that we must fight for today.
To make this vision a reality, we are training committed people like Jannatul and Amena to become solar ambassadors in regional training sessions as part of the Scouts go Solar project. In Thailand in May 2024, 23 scouts from eleven countries in Southeast Asia acquired the tools to implement their own solar projects in their home country.
Amena is in the final year of her degree in soil science. “My goal is to make a difference. We need to encourage people to use solar panels and solar stoves. This can save them money and time,” says the young woman. Her home country, Bangladesh, currently still meets its growing energy needs almost exclusively with fossil fuels.
Jannatul, a budding environmental lawyer, is also motivated to make a difference in Bangladesh: “I was already emotionally attached to solar energy. Thanks to the training, I now also have a practical connection. I can argue more broadly and demonstrate the economic prospects of solar energy. “
Together, we can help prevent the climate crisis from escalating further and make sustainable, renewable energy accessible to everyone.
Will your donation help to make this vision a reality?