AERC Ghana Hosts Maiden Youth Climate Joy and Healing Festival

• The Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities held its first-ever two-day Youth Climate Joy and Healing Festival in Somanya on August 14 and 15, 2026
• The festival brought together 50 young climate advocates for sessions on wellbeing, climate justice, and storytelling at UESD in the Eastern Region
• AERC Ghana's Executive Director spoke exclusively to YEN.com.gh about what the maiden edition highlighted and what comes next for the platform

The Alliance for Empowering Rural Communities (AERC) Ghana brought together 50 young climate advocates in Somanya for a first-of-its-kind event centred not just on urgency, but on healing.

The maiden Youth Climate Joy and Healing Festival ran from 14 to 15 August 2026 at the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in the Eastern Region.

Rather than framing climate change purely through the lens of crisis, the two-day gathering created space for participants to reflect on personal wellbeing, community connection and long-term engagement in climate work.

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Wellbeing at the centre of climate action

Facilitators including Afrifa Smith Charles, Nii Noi Omaboe, Patricia Odeibea Bekoe, Sarfo Danquah, Immanuella Owusu and Dorcas Amanor led sessions covering climate justice, storytelling, self-care and youth participation.

A central thread running through the discussions was the psychological weight that young activists often carry, and the importance of rest and supportive relationships in sustaining that commitment over time.

Participants explored how advocacy and burnout can go hand in hand, and were encouraged to recognise that stepping back to recharge is not a retreat from the cause.

The sessions challenged a common assumption that dedication to climate work means always doing more.

Climate storytelling also was featured prominently. Participants examined how issues such as water pollution, deforestation and shifting rainfall patterns connect to people's everyday realities, moving the conversation beyond statistics and technical language to the human experiences behind environmental challenges.

Youth wellbeing key to Climate Action - AERC

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Speaking exclusively to YEN.com.gh, AERC Ghana's Executive Director Sena Desmond Kofi Foe reflected on the festival's purpose and the lessons drawn from the first edition.

"Young people have an important place in this process. Their contribution can take many forms, including community action, advocacy, education, innovation, storytelling and participation in decision-making. Their experiences and perspectives also matter in conversations about the kind of climate solutions Ghana needs," the Executive Director said.

The Executive Director added that feedback from participant interviews had been encouraging, with many attendees expressing hope that the festival would return as an annual event.

"The festival was built on a simple understanding: responding to climate change requires people who are able to remain engaged for the long term. If young people are expected to continue bringing their ideas, energy and leadership to climate solutions, their wellbeing cannot be treated as separate from that work," the Executive Director noted.

"Start where you are, contribute what you can, work with others and take care of yourself along the way," he added.

Angry youth catch chief in galamsey pit

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Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that the Ankobeahene of Tanoso, Nana Amoako Atta, was detained by angry community members who accuse him of being behind the illegal mining activities destroying the Tano River.

According to residents, the youth gathered after allegedly catching the traditional leader in the act and subsequently handed him over to the police.

The dramatic move has sent shockwaves through the community and drawn significant attention online.

Source: YEN.com.gh