The Captain Planet Foundation and YFM hosted a pivotal Planeteer Alliance and Tide Turners plastic policy training on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the Airport West Hotel. The comprehensive training equipped young individuals with essential skills to become effective environmental stewards, focusing on developing critical policy approaches to plastic policy management and environmental conservation.
The training brought together a diverse group of young environmental advocates, providing them with strategic insights into designing and implementing policies on plastic waste. Participants were engaged by experts through group sessions and experiential learning methods designed to empower the next generation of environmental leaders.
Leesa Carter-Jones, President and CEO of the Captain Planet Foundation, shared insights during an interview at the event. “What’s truly exciting is the potential of these young environmental advocates. Our training is not just about teaching skills—it is about igniting a movement. We’re seeing young people who aren’t just learning, but actively creating solutions that can transform environmental conservation in Ghana and beyond.”
To ensure that young people were the focus of this training, young Planeteer Alliance leaders who trained in previous editions led the sessions. Ipato Kenta and Toluwalase Abiona, Planeteer Alliance leaders from Kenya and Nigeria respectively, led the Ghana trainings. Latoya Henry, COO of the Captain Planet Foundation, supported these young leaders with her vast experience and ability to connect with varied generational groups.
Toluwalase Abiona, a Planeteer Alliance member and facilitator from Nigeria, highlighted the innovative spirit of Ghanaian youth. “What impressed me most was the creativity of the participants. During our group sessions, we saw young people developing technological solutions to environmental challenges. It’s clear that Ghana’s youths are not just aware of environmental issues; they are ready to solve them with ingenuity and passion.”
A Board Member of the Captain Planet Foundation and Leader of the Ghana Planeteers Movement, Dr. Timothy Karikari, stated: “We stand at a critical juncture where environmental challenges demand innovative solutions and passionate commitment. By investing in these 50 young leaders, we are protecting our future.
“Each participant here today carries the potential to influence their community, challenge existing practices and inspire a nationwide conversation about sustainable living.”
He also clarified that even though Planeteer Alliance is for young persons 25 years and below, all persons above the age of 25 with passion to support and get involved could join the Ghana Planeteer Movement as a support group to the younger ones in the Planeteer Alliance.
As a prelude to the training, the Captain Planet Foundation and YFM organised a significant beach clean-up initiative at Akoma Village in Accra on Friday, December 13, 2024. The clean-up exercise brought together a diverse coalition of volunteers, including local community members, students, and environmental enthusiasts. With support from Ecozoil Limited – a prominent waste management service in Ghana, participants successfully removed plastic waste, discarded fishing nets and other environmental debris from the beach.
Other leaders present included Lakeisha Sesay, an award-winning public sector strategist and Board Member of the Captain Planet Foundation; Tracy Kyei, Founding Member of the Ghana Planeteers Movement and Marketing Manager at Samsung Ghana; Princess Sekyere, an international communications consultant and founding member of the Ghana Planeteers Movement; Professor Daniel Nukpezah from the Institute of Environment and Sanitation Studies (University of Ghana); and Anna Sakyibea Bekai, a Senior Programme Officer from the Ministry of Environmental Science and Technology.
The Captain Planet Foundation remains committed to inspiring and educating young people worldwide, transforming environmental awareness into actionable change.
Established by Ted Turner and Barbara Pyle, the Captain Planet Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental education and empowering young people to become environmental leaders. Through innovative programmes and global partnerships, the foundation works to create a sustainable future for our planet.
