Tuesday, August 9, 2022
  • About Us
  • ImagiNATION
  • Rate Card
  • Contact Us
The Nation Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result
Home Life & Style EveryWoman

Joy munthali: green girls platform founder & executive director

by Nation Online
03/07/2022
in EveryWoman, Front Page
6 min read
0
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on WhatsAppShare on LinkedinLinkedinShare via Email

At only 25 years old, Joy Munthali is leaving her mark in the world.

She is a youth activist empowering girls and young women in Malawi to be the next generation of feminist environmental conservationists.

Joy has always been passionate about conservation work and she founded the Green Girls Platform.

As a girl, her father always talked about the importance of conserving and living in harmony with nature.

“We had many trees and flowers around our house and lots of domestic animals. This ignited my passion for conservation and at age 10, I joined a wildlife club in primary school. I was just a girl, but this club exposed me to many conservation efforts that were happening in Malawi at the time.

“When I got to secondary school, I joined the environmental club and witnessed the beauty of Malawi’s nature.  I went on to study environmental science in college, which affirmed my passion for nature and conservation,” she said.

In 2016, Joy volunteered at the National Youth Network on Climate Change.

While there, she saw a huge gap between men and women in the environmental sector—as most girls and young women were left behind in policy implementation processes.

“That is when I decided to set up the Green Girls Platform with support from the National Youth Network. I am its founder and executive director. It is a female-led initiative that addresses the violence girls and women face due to climate change in Malawi. I teach girls and young women about environmental conservation, climate justice and equip them with leadership skills so they can take up leadership roles and influence change,” she said.

Joy created the platform to enhance the participation of girls and young women in the climate change sector and also provide safe spaces for them to freely interact and share the best practices on climate change adaptation in Malawi.

The Green Girls Platform ensures that gender and women’s rights are placed on climate change and environment of national and global agendas by advocating gender responsive governance structures, policies and laws.

The platform also provides safe spaces where girls and young women can easily share their experiences, lessons, best practices, build networks and coalitions together.

Joy has been able to reach approximately 3 500 girls and young women in Malawi spread over all four regions.

Her work has proved that it is possible for girls to organise themselves and implement conservation activities.

Some of their members in flood-prone areas have started coming up with their own climate change adaptation strategies that work in their contexts.

Girls are now taking up leadership spaces in their communities and addressing issues by tailoring sustainable conservation efforts such as producing reusable bags to eliminate the use of thin plastics, setting up orchards, adopting climate-smart agriculture, meaningfully participating in climate change high-level meetings, actively participating in national clean-up efforts and mentoring their fellow girls in conservation work.

“In 2019, we received the With and For Girls Award for one of the best upcoming organisations in Sub-Saharan Africa working with girls’ rights.

“And we have been recognised by government and non-government organisation in Malawi.”

In her line of work, Joy has also faced problems and challenges, especially as a woman, which she has had to fight through.

“Many times I have not been taken seriously. Most people think what we are doing is not serious which makes it hard for us to push through and reach more girls and young women in Malawi,” she said.

“I have also experienced exploitation. When people know you have some value, they tend to use it for their own benefit and hang you out to dry,” she added.

Joy has been harassed when doing interventions in rural areas and online with people calling her and her team names.

However, despite these challenges, Joy is still very passionate about seeing people freely enjoying access to resources.

She was initially drawn to activism because she believes there is a world where everyone can enjoy the same access to resources and opportunities regardless of their gender, sexuality, age or social status.

“I know the world is possible and all it needs is a little push. This belief in equality and reducing the burden on others is what drew me to activism. I have seen firsthand the power youths and other marginalised groups have when they have the same access to resources and opportunities as everyone else,” said Joy.

She added that seeing many young advocates, activists and conservationists that are driven and motivated is what keeps her hopeful for the future.

Joy is particularly proud of involvement of young people, especially girls and young women in climate change governance structures at all levels she has been able to be a part of.

Green Girls Platform is also a Co-founder of We Trust You(th), a global initiative that was set up to challenge and support youth-focused donors and NGOs to partner and fund young people.

In 2021, Joy was recognised alongside 99 other youth from 23 countries in Africa as top youth leaders in conservation in the continent.

This was the first-ever top 100 young African conservation leaders list, a collaboration between the Africa Alliance of World Organisation of the Scout Movement, African Wildlife Foundation and WWF to empower the efforts of young, talented Africans and inspire other youth in leading the way to ensure nature and people will thrive for generations to come.

“This proved I was an exceptional young woman who has proven to be a leading light for sustainable development of the continent,” she said.

Her advice to young girls is to start with whatever they have, believe in their vision and know they will succeed.

In her free time, Joy enjoys reading books, listening to music and playing basketball.

She is also the happiest when she listens to the dreams of girls and young women; and sees how her work helps them feel closer to achieving their dreams.

Joy is the seventh born in a family of eight and has three brothers and four sisters.

Her father passed away in 2010 when she was in Form Two. Her mother passed away two years later.

She did her primary school at St Maria Goretti in Blantyre and went on to Stella Maris Secondary School.

She was later selected to Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where she studied Environmental Science.

Previous Post

MCP, UTM opt for peaceful discussions

Next Post

We should start discussing ideas

Related Posts

Consumers are yet to be cushioned from fuel price hikes
Business News

 Fuel price stabilisation fund building up—mera

August 9, 2022
Business News

Bank simplifies access to long-term finance

August 8, 2022
Front Page

Judiciary under probe 

August 8, 2022
Next Post

We should start discussing ideas

Discussion about this post

Opinions and Columns

My Turn

Bitcoin and regulations

August 8, 2022
Editor's Note

My beautiful experience as an intern

August 7, 2022
Editor's Note

My beautiful experience as an intern

August 7, 2022
Big Man Wamkulu

What is he up to? He doesn’t drink

August 7, 2022

Malawi-Music.com Top10

Trending Stories

  • Macra ordered MultiChoice Malawi not to 
implement the new proposed tariffs

    Court rebuffs MultiChoice Malawi on new tariffs

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Treasury Secretary says won’t resign

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Judiciary under probe 

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Chakwera’s austerity measures questioned

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nankhumwa rally irks DPP governor

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

  • Values
  • Our Philosophy
  • Editorial policy
  • Advertising Policy
  • Code of Conduct
  • Plagiarism disclaimer
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

© 2022 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Life & Style
    • Every Woman
      • Soul
      • Family
    • Religion
    • Feature
  • Society
  • Columns
  • Sports
  • Chichewa
  • Enation

© 2020 Nation Publications Limited. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.