About us
Our Mission
Our Youth For The Climate (OY4C)
is a global grassroots organization and youth-driven movement. We aim to catalyze systemic change by providing high-quality and accessible climate education to the next generation, fostering widespread awareness and action towards our future.
Our Story
Our movement began with the realization that the very people who are going to be most impacted by climate change are the same people who are the least aware of the ongoing crisis. Over the past two years, we have built an education-oriented community that pushes for awareness and advocacy for the climate.
It all started with our founder, Ava Langridge. Through Zoom classes, social media pages, and outreach, she and others alike have worked towards a better, more sustainable future. Today, we have a global team led by over 90 youth leaders from communities around the world, who are working each day to actively make a difference.
We believe knowledge is power, and our goals reflect this. Our current and main goal is to create a curriculum that can be taught in schools across the globe. By making climate education more accessible with this curriculum, we strive to empower our youth to push for radical systemic change in their communities on the other side of the world.
Time is running out for our planet. But together, we can change that.
Our Values
1. We bring education about climate to the masses, primarily to our youngest generations
OY4C is a youth movement that focuses on educating our younger generations about the ongoing climate crisis. The climate crisis is an imminent disaster that will not fix itself; by educating as many people as we can on what's going on and how to take action, we will create a community of people who are willing to fight for the future of this planet. Because the younger generations are the ones who will be most affected, our movement is specifically targeted at educating the children and the future leaders of our world.
2. We are a community that works and makes decisions together
Our goal is to work together to bring positive change. Often we hear that to go global, we have to start local, and that is true: every individual has the power to make small changes in their own lifestyle to promote more sustainable living. However, real change can only be achieved through group efforts. We need to come together as a whole to make our voices heard, request radical efforts to fight the climate crisis, and push for legitimate action to safeguard the future of our planet.
3. We welcome everyone from all backgrounds
OY4C welcomes anyone willing to make a difference. Whether you're from or what you've done or haven't done to fight this crisis, we encourage anyone to take a stand. What matters is making an impact, and the more people join, the more our voices will be heard. We want to create an inclusive community that focuses on fighting for radical change. To do so, we welcome as many people as we can get, no matter the background. Our strength comes in numbers, and together we can build a better future.
4. We create change with peaceful actions
We will continue to push for system change through peaceful actions and protests. Our planet cannot speak for itself, so we give it a voice and take a stand against the climate injustices that our governments continue to ignore. Every day the climate crisis worsens, and more people are forced to endure its consequences. We need radical change, and we are running out of time. Our voices are our most powerful tool, and it's time that we use them. We will only protest by adhering to non-violent yet powerful actions: our job is to build and empower our younger generations, not cause harm.
5. We respect everyone’s journey to sustainability and support them regardless of where they start
The journey to sustainability requires motivation and time, and we welcome all who are willing to start theirs or are seeking to continue it. Making changes in one's lifestyle or community can sometimes take a lot of effort and time, but we encourage everyone to try. Any change, no matter how small it may be, is important. But, OY4C is here to support you along your sustainable journey through habits and actions.
6. We focus on Intersectional Environmentalism
In Leah Thomas’ words, intersectionalism regarding climate activism should be about identifying “the ways in which injustices happening to marginalized communities and the earth are interconnected”. As a team, we recognize that intersectionalism goes beyond inclusivity. It is our goal to prioritize the individuals in marginalized communities who are most impacted by the climate crisis and acknowledge that not everyone comes from the same background. That’s why we value every person’s unique journey to sustainability and aim to uphold individuals who are discriminated against, as well as promote climate action that is realistic in relation to each individual’s different resources.