Young Voices Raised in Prague for Climate Justice at Academies

On May 21 and 22, 2025, I had the opportunity to be part of the Academies organized by the Plant-for-the-Planet Czech Republic Nadace as a long-term Climate Justice Ambassador. The Academies took place at the United Nations Information Center in the Czech Republic, in collaboration with the City of Prague. A total of 55 students from three Prague elementary schools participated – and honestly, these days always give me an incredible boost of inspiration and energy.

A Warm Welcome from the UNIC

Right at the beginning, the children were welcomed by Michal Broža, Head of the UN Information Centre in the Czech Republic. I was truly impressed by how attentively they listened. He spoke about the role of the United Nations in sustainable development and how young people can play a key role in building a more sustainable future. At Plant-for-the-Planet, we believe in children being the actors of change, and his speech set a perfect tone for the rest of the day.

Kids Try to Tackle the Climate Crisis Head-On

As a Climate Justice Ambassador, I had the chance to introduce the students to the basics of the climate crisis, the concept of climate justice, the activities of Plant-for-the-Planet, and how they can find an active spot in the movement. And I must say – I was amazed at how much they already knew! During the interactive presentation, they eagerly raised their hands, answered questions, and some of their responses were absolutely disarming – not only correct but thoughtful, inclusive and creative. It was clear that they think about the world and truly care about it.

The World Game: Making Climate Inequality Real and Tangible

After a short break with delicious refreshments prepared by Kuchařky bez domova (Women Chefs Without Homes), a non-profit organisation supporting homeless women in Prague, we jumped into the World Game. Using simple props, we demonstrated the global distribution of population, emissions, and wealth – and how deeply this connects to climate (in)justice. The children engaged in passionate discussions, asked questions, and proposed solutions of their own. What made me especially happy was that the teachers got involved too – asking questions, joining the debate, and clearly showing the same interest as their students.

Learning the Power of Climate Communication

Next, we explored how to talk about the climate crisis. How we talk about the climate crisis is one of the keys to speaking up. The children practiced giving short speeches and gave each other feedback. Watching them improve with every round was truly insightful. Now, they will continue their journey to confident, fact-oriented, and storytelling-based climate communication within their circles.

A Game of Imagination and Resilience

In the afternoon, we played the team-based strategy game Plan(t) Game, this time focusing on floods in the Czech Republic. The challenge: What would you do if your favorite cultural center were destroyed by water? The children came up with ideas like restoring greenery, better land management, or even plans for building a new cultural venue. It was beautiful to witness them search for fair and sustainable solutions – and how well they could debate and find compromises.

We closed the day with the planning of children’s own projects. The students were invited to come up with their own ideas for how to change the world and help the climate. And they went all in – creating their own versions of the Academy, planning Earth Day week programs, and designing campaigns for their schools. Their ideas were original, well thought out, and often very action-oriented.

Why Trusting Young People is the Best Investment

And you know what touched me the most? The children didn’t want to go home. Some even asked their teachers if they could come back the next day. That’s when I realized – when we give children space, trust, and a voice, they can truly inspire us all with their ideas.

Each participant received a Climate Justice Ambassador certificate, and most importantly, the feeling that they can be part of the change. Personally, I left these two days with a great sense of hope.

You can find all the pictures from the Academies here.