Kids Rule on Planetari, Climate Champ–Cindy Forde, Ripple Africa!

KIDS RULE ON PLANTERI!

Planetari is a multimedia education system that teaches children to be the innovators and entrepreneurs of a better world.  Its education platform is aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, equipping children to become the makers of a better world. Planetari acknowledges that human beings are “at the controls of the biosphere” for the first time in the planet’s history. The result of which is economic, environmental and social INstability around the globe. Planetari was founded by Cindy Forde because she believes the challenges all the next generations face from climate change cannot be solved by current paradigms. Ford is the former CEO of the UK’s Cambridge Science Center and former managing director of the Blue Marine Foundation.  

She’s made Planetari’s mission to empower children with the knowledge and skills to be innovators, entrepreneurs and global citizens who protect the planet and ensure the wellbeing of all its inhabitants. Forde made Planetari’s vision that by 2030, millions of children will care for Planet Earth and dare to create a world where everyone can thrive. In an interview with Sylvera, Forde said, “Our goal is by collaborating with other educators working in this space, to eventually shift the curriculum in schools so that Earth is at the center of how children learn.” 

And that’s why Planetari matters to us. Planetari aims to reach over 40 million children in the next five years by offering Makerzines, downloadable lesson plans and classroom resources as well as digital media adventures. Planetari just released its latest book, Bright New World, called “a lavishly illustrated glimpse into a near future where today’s children have grown up and tackled the world’s most pressing social and environmental problems.”

Sounds like SolarPunk for kids!

DEEPER DIVE: Planetari, Blue Marine Foundation, Cambridge Science Center, YouTube

CLIMATE CHAMPION, CINDY FORDE

Cindy is founder of Planetari, a U.K.-based, education platform aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals that equips children to be the innovators of a better world. As MD of the Blue Marine Foundation she helped form the Great British Oceans Coalition, persuading the UK government to establish the largest marine protected areas in the world. 

As CEO of Cambridge Science Centre she created hands-on discovery programmes for children to learn key skills needed for national development.  Cindy has an MSc in Sustainability and Business Practice and is an award winning creative.  Her children’s book ‘Bright New World’ will be published by Welbeck in 2022. Cindy works with Climate 2025 on an emergent movement for global governance of the biosphere and adequate protection of the global commons. 

When asked who her role models were, in an interview with Sylvera, Forde said, “There are numerous brilliant women leaders emerging, indigenous leaders such as Nemonte Nenquimo, Neema Namadamu, youth leaders like Greta Thunberg, political leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jacinda Adern, Mia Mottley, conservation leaders like Clare Brook, of the Blue Marine Foundation, the women behind She Changes Climate. The list goes on, so much to hope for.” 

Aside from all of the above, why does Cindy Forde matter to us? Forde’s career has been dedicated to transforming how we understand and act as human beings towards Earth, the living system that sustains us. 

DEEPER DIVE: Slyvera, LinkedIn, Climate and Capital Media

RIPPLE AFRICA

Ripple Africa’s overriding aim is to empower communities so they themselves can achieve a sustainable future – founded in 2003 by Geoff and Liz Furber, they hold a strong belief that local people can be the solution to many of the challenges they face. They claim not to be “just another charity in Africa.” Ripple Africa has operated large scale environmental projects across six districts in Malawi since 2003. Their goal is to do this in response to local communities’ needs. By enabling them, great things can happen. Ripple Africa’s belief is “Provide a hand UP and not a handOUT,” and that philosophy has been central to the charity’s ideology for nearly two decades.  

Why does Ripple Africa matter to us? Today, the charity reports having over 8,000 people working on its projects on the ground. Ripple Africa is committed to all projects in the long term; led by local people, operating at a grassroots level, involving the community in all aspects of activity, helping to ensure that the local communities have a positive, more prosperous and happy future. 

DEEPER DIVE: Ripple Africa