Nine youth-led teams in Freetown have been awarded over $30,000 in microgrants to implement innovative climate action projects.

The grants were presented yesterday by Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer as part of the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund.

The fund, a joint initiative of the Freetown City Council, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the United Cities and Local Government (UCLG), aims to empower young people to address the climate crisis. Freetown is one of 100 cities worldwide selected to participate in the program.

The nine winning teams, including Movable Ease Sierra Leone, Sierra Eco Heat, and Girls for the Environment, will undertake a range of projects from waste-to-energy solutions and tree planting to developing a disaster warning app.

“We are thrilled to support these young leaders who are taking bold steps to combat climate change in our city,” said Mayor Aki-Sawyer. “Their innovative ideas have the potential to make a significant impact on Freetown’s sustainability.”

The Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund provides up to $150,000 per city to support youth-led climate initiatives. Freetown is already planning to allocate additional funds to support more projects in the coming months.

The winning teams will be closely monitored as they implement their projects, with the Freetown City Council providing support and guidance.