Susan talks about climate change in Kenya
Listening Here you will meet Susan Odiambo who is 11 years old and in sixth grade at a school in Kenya. Susan will tell you how climate change in her area has affected her life. You'll also meet 15-year-old Lawrence Kabila who attends the same school as Susan.
Susan lives with her mother, father and four siblings in a mud house on the shores of Lake Victoria on the outskirts of Kisumu. Her father is a taxi driver and her mother is a teacher.
A typical day starts with Susan getting up, making the bed, washing and brushing her teeth before having a cup of tea with some bread. Then it's time to go to school.
In Kisumu, it's early mornings for school children. Lawrence Kabila, 15, goes to the same school as Susan. He gets up at 5 a.m. to wash and drink his tea before helping at home with the dishes and cleaning, then he goes to school.
Susan Odiambo 11 years
Susan Odiambo 11 years
Effects of climate change in Kisumu
During recess, Susan and Lawrence sit on the bench under the big Acacia tree in the schoolyard and discuss climate change.
Susan's school run is short but hot and dusty, especially during the rainy season, even though there has been a prolonged drought in much of Kenya.
The drought is affecting families in Kisumu, many of whom live by farming. When the weather is uncertain, families cannot grow crops as they used to. After a long period of drought, heavy rains can destroy crops and wash away the soil in the fields.
Lawrence Kabila 15 years
Lawrence Kabila 15 years
Children's perspective on climate
All children have the right to life and development, and an important part of this is having access to nutritious food. When rain or drought destroys crops, there is no food to grow or buy, negatively affecting both children's health and families' finances.
- It often looks like rain, but the clouds almost always blow away. "It's never been like this before, it's strange," says Susan.
Lawrence looks down at the ground and draws patterns with his shoe in the dry sand.
- It is far too dry to be a rainy season. The weather has become extreme. Either it's too dry or it rains too much when it does come.
- What can we do? We need to do what we can, like planting trees. Trees make the air cleaner, reduce dust and make our environment more beautiful," concludes Susan.
It's lunchtime for both Susan and Lawrence. Today it's rice and beans!
This text was originally published on January 1, 2021.
Published: 04 May 2023
