Stories
March 9, 2026 • 3 min read
GOAL Honduras staff, in partnership with UNICEF, recently brought together 27 children and adolescents from across Honduras to participate in a discussion and exchange of experiences and innovative proposals called “Voices of Children in Climate Action.” The initiative empowers youth to lead on climate solutions, strengthening their leadership and ensuring their voices influence the decisions shaping their environment and future.
The Voices of Children in Climate Action Event
Honduras is highly vulnerable to climate change, with communities facing increasingly frequent hurricanes, floods, and droughts that threaten livelihoods, education, and food security. Children and adolescents are among the most affected, yet their voices are often missing from the decisions and policies that shape their future.
The Voices of Children in Climate Action event, held at the National Institute for Educational Research and Training (INICE), brought together 95 participants from social organisations, public institutions, and local partners. Throughout the day, participants explored initiatives that integrate science, technology, and youth leadership to protect the planet. Centred on amplifying young voices, the event featured 27 children and adolescents from Erandique, San Sebastián (Lempira), Omoa and Choloma (Cortés), Yamaranguila (Intibucá), and Santa Ana (La Paz). These participants had the opportunity to engage in discussions, shared experiences, and presented innovative climate proposals.
Scaling Up Climate Action Led by Children
The event was part of a broader effort to ensure that children can actively participate in the decisions that shape their lives and their environment, an essential right outlined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. By organising events like this and working together, UNICEF and GOAL are creating spaces where young people feel heard, valued, and empowered to speak up about the climate challenges facing their communities.
The “Scaling Up Climate Action Led by Children” initiative reflects this commitment. Developed by UNICEF and GOAL, it recognises children and adolescents as leaders in climate action at both local and national levels. With support from the Ministry of Education (SEDUC), the Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment (SERNA), and local governments, the initiative helps strengthen youth leadership and connects young people to the resources and support they need to bring climate solutions to life in their own communities.
According to Bastiaan van ‘t Hoff, UNICEF representative in Honduras, “Encouraging children to defend this cause through climate action solutions is essential for them to have a better future.”
The representative added that “at UNICEF, we will support the efforts of children and adolescents to defend their rights, giving them the opportunity to interact with leaders who can make a difference in their communities.”
Proposals on the Path to Transformation
Participants were given the opportunity to present their proposals on the platform “Climáticas: Niñez con Propuestas Transformadoras” (Climate: Children with Transformative Proposals), an innovative space that facilitates direct dialogue between children, local authorities, and the private sector. The initiatives included green projects and ventures aligned with the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Participants openly shared their experiences as climate leaders, describing the process of presenting and managing proposals with international cooperation agencies, private companies, NGOs, and municipal governments. They shared the progress made in implementing projects in their own communities and educational centres. This opportunity allowed the young participants to highlight the progress already taking shape in their schools and communities – clear proof that their voices are not only being heard but actively driving change.
Building a Better Future
Jorge Tejeda, representative of GOAL Honduras, said, “at GOAL we firmly believe that children should not only be heard but recognized as a key force in leading climate solutions at the local level. Supporting these processes means investing in more resilient communities and a more just and sustainable future.”
Beyond showcasing youth leadership, the event underscored a critical gap: children and young people are already experiencing climate impacts in their daily lives, yet they are so rarely included in the decision-making processes that shape adaptation priorities and resource allocation. Ensuring that their proposals inform local and national climate planning is not only a matter of participation, but of designing more effective and equitable responses to the climate risks facing their communities.
UNICEF and GOAL reaffirm their commitment to continue strengthening the leadership of Honduran children through this initiative by promoting inclusive spaces where their ideas can be transformed into concrete actions to address the challenges of climate change.
