Mona's Journey for Gender Equality and Environmental Justice

Mona is a climate change activist based in Jordan South Valley who dedicates her time towards community engagement to highlight the connection between gender equality and environmental justice. Mona has been a part of UNICEF Girl’s Leadership Program and uses her leadership skills to empower young people to take action against climate change. Her activism has been focused on awareness raising initiatives to mobilise young people to care about the environment and engage in adaptation strategies such as planting native seeds and water-resistant plants, for example indigenous zaatar. In this, Mona inspires youth, particularly young females, to become leaders in social change and environmental justice with a specific focus on gender equality and breaking gender stereotypes – creating a better future for all.

In Jordan Valley, Mona and her peers has noticed an increase in land degradation due to human activities affecting the agricultural yields, at the same time as there is an increase in water scarcity and lack of rain, with the impact of drought and desertification.  Mona is determined to increase awareness for a more sustainable and just land stewardship. As such, Mona, together with adolescent girls that has been a part of Mona’s leadership trainings, planted crops adapted to climate change which do not need a lot of water at community locations such as school gardens. Mona is the first female in her community to create such initiative which has inspired young females to also challenges societal norms.

In the context of the Jordan Valley, Mona is particularly interested in exploring the gender dimensions of climate change impacts. She is noticing that some girls in her community must drop-out of school due to gender expectations to support domestic labour or support with agriculture tasks that are usually feminized such as supporting their mothers at the farms. Climate change disproportionately affects women and girls, due to gender-based discrimination, lack of access to resources, and stereotyped gender norms. In Jordan Valley, women and girls are responsible for agricultural work and managing water resources, and therefore, the changes in weather patterns and water scarcity caused by climate change have a direct impact on their livelihoods and well-being. With economic deprivation increasing due to loss in livelihoods, Mona and her peers are worried about the risks of increase child marriage, which is already at worrying levels in the valley, and are including these gendered aspects of environmental justice in their awareness-raising. For example, determined to make a change, Mona decided to take action and created a play “Our Environment is Our Life” to raise awareness about these important issues among her peers. The play focuses on impacts of climate change in day-to-day life and the importance of adapting community practices to gender responsive sustainable strategies to protect the environment. The play, which is both engaging and educational, received a lot of attention and recognition within the community, especially among adolescent girls.

Additionally, due to patriarchal structures, women and girls in the Valley region have limited access to education and decision-making power, which further exacerbates the impact of climate change on their lives. Mona is determined to use her knowledge and skills to address these gender dimensions and make a positive impact on the lives of women and girls in the Valley. She is committed to promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls to have a greater role in decision-making and resource management, to mitigate the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable future. Mona’s song "Friends of the Environment," is also educating children in an easy and engaging way about the importance of agriculture and taking care of the earth. In a sing-along modality, Mona has performed with her classmates at both schools and community events. Mona has been encouraged by local organisations to work with them to promote sustainable land stewardship, irrigation methods and preserve national resources as well as recycling methods and reduction of waste.

With Mona’s climate action, there is a change in the community's attitude towards the environment and the impact of climate change. Her efforts continue to inspire others to take similar steps, and her community is more aware and active in preserving a more sustainable environment. As more adolescent girls in her community are encouraged to stay in school and pursue an education, Mona’s activism against child marriage and gender-based-violence is also realized. Through her hard work and dedication, Mona has made a real difference in her community, and she continues to inspire others to take action and make a positive change in the world.