LOn 10th September, I was honored to serve as a panelist at the youth side event, themed "Roots and Routes: Past, Present & Future of Africa – Powered by Africans and Allies, Driven by Sustainability.” Our discussion centered on intergenerational collaboration in advancing climate action and sustainability across the continent. I applaud Africa Women and Children Conference, African Women Presence Initiative (AWPI) Women Presence Initiative (AWPI), and Resilient40 for organizing this important platform to amplify youth voices and foster inclusive climate solutions.

An energizing session last week on what entrepreneurs and youth in the climate.It boils down to taking risks, learning from failures, paying it forward and leading the charge in the inclusion of #women 🌍 Iteration and creative problem solving are key to unlocking the next generation of climate leaders, against the backdrop of financing that is patient, innovative and also solves for climate adaptation 🌳Carole Tankeu Maryann Kahindi-Picard phenomenal job bringing together such a stellar group of panelists and participants.

Thank you to Resilient40, African Women Presence Initiative (AWPI) and the Africa Women and Children Conference for organizing The Roots and Routes: Present & Future of Africa side event that brought amazing Youth Leaders, Policy makers and Innovators from Africa . I had a great honor being part of the high level panel that brought Africa’s Climate change solutions that are already working.

Our session, ‘Roots and Routes: Past, Present & Future of Africa — Powered by Africans, Driven by Sustainability’, brought together young leaders, climate champions, policymakers, and innovators from across the continent to reflect on our collective heritage, current efforts, and shared vision for a climate-resilient Africa. A special thank you to our speakers, moderators, partners and attendees. Your engagement turned this session into a meaningful space of reflection, collaboration, and forward-thinking. As Resilient40, we remain committed to amplifying African voices and solutions on the global climate stage. Together, we move — rooted in heritage, guided by sustainability, and resilient in our path forward. 💚🌱

Truly inspiring to see how trust and shared purpose drive such impactful collaborations! The work to empower women in energy (shoutout to EWiEn!) and link it to climate action is exactly what builds a greener, fairer Africa. Kudos to everyone involved—this is the kind of collective effort that creates lasting change. Looking forward to seeing more of this great work!

✨ Truly grateful to have attended the African Climate Summit 2025 side event, witnessing the power of collaboration and youth leadership in action. 🌍💡

Cette tribune portée par AWPI résonne fortement avec notre engagement : remettre les récits africains, et en particulier ceux des femmes, au cœur de la fabrique des solutions. Les réponses aux crises planétaires ne viendront pas uniquement d’un transfert de modèles, mais de la reconnaissance des capacités locales à faire autrement, à faire mieux parfois, malgré les contraintes. Lorsque des femmes africaines prennent la parole sur la justice climatique, c’est un génération qui se relève.

Cette tribune portée par AWPI résonne fortement avec notre engagement : remettre les récits africains, et en particulier ceux des femmes, au cœur de la fabrique des solutions. Les réponses aux crises planétaires ne viendront pas uniquement d’un transfert de modèles, mais de la reconnaissance des capacités locales à faire autrement, à faire mieux parfois, malgré les contraintes. Lorsque des femmes africaines prennent la parole sur la justice climatique, c’est un génération qui se relève.

This edition of ChangeNOW 2025 last April, at the Grand Palais, represented a new milestone for the event — not only in scale, with a record-breaking audience, but also in depth, thanks to the strong presence of grassroot & high-level changemakers. A zillion thanks to Carole Tankeu and to Maryann Kahindi-Picard, Founders of the African Women Presence Initiative, who did not just organize an event— they fuelled a movement. And to MARIA FLOUDA from Lean In Network | Equity & Sustainability to have created space for bold, solution-driven conversations, and for ensuring that this dialogue wasn’t just insightful—but transformative...

Un immense merci à Maryann et à AWPI de m’avoir permis, une nouvelle fois de participer à ChangeNOW. Tellement de rencontres, de moments forts et d’initiatives incroyables…qu’ils serait impossible de tout énumérer. Ravi d’avoir pu assister au Youth Workshop Uniting for Impact: Advancing the African Narratives Amid Planetary Challenges!

Cette année, la 8e édition de ChangeNOW a une fois de plus prouvé qu’il est possible de connecter les solutions, les continents et les cœurs autour d’un même objectif : changer le monde maintenant. Et une Afrique actrice du changement. Merci à tous ceux qui ont porté la voix du continent, construit des ponts, et affirmé une vision ambitieuse, cohérente et puissante. 🌍💬

Coming from Kenya and studying sustainability, I arrived at ChangeNOW curious and left energized by the scale of innovation and collaboration. Local challenges need local voices at the table. 5. 👩🏾🤝👩🏼 Women: The Heart and Source of Sustainability As Olatokunbo Ige and Wiam Samir 🌍 emphasized, women are not just stakeholders, they’re the backbone of sustainable change, bringing emotional intelligence and leadership, even in male-dominated sectors.

Thank you for this great success ! Let’s continue to collaborate, innovate together ! We need more bridges between ecosystems and with Africa ones ! CHANGE NOW AFRICA INITITIAVES Dedicated side-event showcasing African Women Leaders ! Special shoutout to Carole , Maryann and Garance

THE BIG IMPACT FAMILY – Collaboration and sisterhood At ChangeNow this year Carole & Maryann whose leadership has brought together key figures such as the Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, the Ambassador of Ghana to France and Elisabeth Moreno to talk about the power of woman changemakers who are developing brilliant solutions on the continent and beyond

Dear Maryann and Carole, BRAVO ! You did it and you did it super well. Women are hardly impacted by the climate change and this is something that is becoming more and more evident as time goes on. They can be part of the solution. Thank you for offering the stage to these incredible role models showing that if we are not given the space, we can create it ourselves

Bravo Carole and Maryann for this high-level event convening women leaders, youth leaders, innovators and action-oriented thought leaders contributing to solutions for climate action and inclusiveness for Africa.

What a pleasure to moderate these panels of inspired, talented and engaged women across geographies. Magic happened that evening at Change Now as we exchanged and shared initiatives and best practices of women with vision ! Magic does happen when you gather inspired, talented, powerful and intentional women looking in the same direction. Thank you to each of these great women I was lucky to meet and both Carole and Maryann who did an amazing work to create these fabulous moments ! Love my continent !

Thanks to Carole and Maryann for the invitation. It was a pleasure to present the work of the Association les femmes tchadiennes de la diaspora and to be the youngest guest on this high-level panel

Representation matters ! As the saying goes “if there is no space at the table, create your own table “ The AFRICAN WOMEN PRESENCE INITIATIVE 2024 dit it last week at ChangeNOW event in Paris ! I want to express my heartferlt gratitude to two remarkable women Carole and Maryann who epitomized this ethos by creating space where African women leaders could be part of the global dialogue that took place at ChangeNOW 2024 in Paris. Congratulations Carole & Maryann for the well curated program. Thank you for building a table to ensure African women voices will be represented at ChangeNow Summit.

Thank you Maryann and Carole. It’s always impossible until someone does it. You two did the impossible, really. And you took S2, UBUNTUNESS and Women for Sustainable Energy & Climate Action to a very good high. Now we all need to work hard to stay there. And it’s possible, in view of the energy in you two and the positive vibes you got from this event. Asante sana !

It was a blessing moment to discover all the amazing journeys and the inspiring mission each one embraces. Thank you for making it possible. A special thanks to Carole and Maryann for giving the voice to new narratives and diverses voices.

Bravo to the visionary co-founders of the Africa Women Presence initiative Carole & Maryann for their dedication to showcasing African women’s contributions to climate action and the broader society.The event underscored the power of African women’s leadership and innovation in shaping a more sustainable future.

Quel plaisir d’avoir été invité au ChangeNOW 2024 event à Paris. Que de panélistes inspirantes par leurs réalisations, leur engagement et la force de la volonté ! Le mot que je retiens : intentionalité, être utile et être financée car l’argent est le sang de l’économie. Un grand merci à Maryann et Carole pour cette invitation et surtout bravo et hâte d’être à la prochaine édition de ce rendez-vous incontournable.