How village rain stories shape climate actionCEFR B1
24 Dec 2025
Adapted from Bird, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Prithivi Rajan, Unsplash
Emily Wanja Nderitu brings village knowledge about rain, planting and water into international climate work. She attended COP30 in Belem, Brazil and says the location felt like a frontline in the climate struggle. Nderitu works with Doc Society and has spent nearly a decade on who gets to tell climate stories and how those stories can shape policy.
She runs the Democracy Story Unit and the Climate Story Labs. These projects bring together storytellers, scientists and policymakers to ask which stories are needed in specific places and how those stories can lead to real impact. Nderitu says, "COP is an event. Climate is not an event." Her work aims to keep attention on communities after conferences finish.
Her approach values everyday knowledge. She notes that many African communities speak about delayed rains, crops and livestock rather than using the phrase "climate change." She gives examples where local storytelling led to change, such as a Kenyan film screening that prompted a town hall and a water policy revision, and a South African photo project that inspired a school garden programme.
Difficult words
- frontline — The area most affected by a problem
- policy — A plan or rules used by organisations
- storyteller — A person who tells stories to othersstorytellers
- impact — A strong effect or change from something
- community — A group of people living in one placecommunities
- approach — A way of doing or thinking about something
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How can village knowledge about rain and planting help international climate policy?
- Have you seen a local story, film or photo project change opinions where you live? Describe briefly.
- What is a good way to keep attention on communities after big international conferences end?
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