She Leads Climate Advocacy

Her voice. Her leadership. Our climate future.

She Leads Climate Advocacy is Girls of Impact's flagship climate leadership programme, equipping young women with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate meaningfully in climate action, advocacy and decision-making. Grounded in the realities of Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the programme combines climate education, policy engagement, leadership development and experiential learning to prepare young women to contribute to the conversations and decisions shaping our region's future. Because young women should not only inherit the consequences of climate change. They should have the opportunity to shape the solutions.

Why She Leads?

Climate decisions are being made today. Young women deserve a voice in them.

The Caribbean is among the regions particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, coastal erosion and threats to livelihoods present serious challenges for communities across our region. These impacts also intersect with existing social and economic inequalities, affecting the experiences and opportunities of women, girls and vulnerable communities. Yet access to climate education, policy spaces, professional networks and opportunities for meaningful engagement remains uneven. She Leads was developed to help address this gap. We believe that meaningful climate participation requires more than awareness. Young women need opportunities to understand complex issues, develop informed perspectives, engage with institutions and practise the skills required to advocate effectively. She Leads creates a pathway from climate awareness to informed participation and leadership.

Our Story

From global dialogue to local action.

She Leads Climate Advocacy was conceptualised by Girls of Impact Founder and Executive Director Reneé Atwell following her participation in the 2025 UNESCO Youth Forum in Uzbekistan. The Forum brought together young people from around the world to engage with the theme of climate action and its social impacts, particularly for young people. As a Caribbean delegate, Reneé participated in conversations highlighting the importance of youth leadership, inclusive climate governance and meaningful participation in shaping climate solutions. These experiences reinforced an important question: How can more young Caribbean women access the knowledge, skills and opportunities needed to participate meaningfully in climate decision-making? She Leads was developed as a practical response. Launched in Trinidad and Tobago in 2026, the programme seeks to make climate knowledge, advocacy training and leadership opportunities more accessible to emerging young women leaders, while creating a foundation for future regional collaboration.

The She Leads Experience

Learn. Engage. Negotiate. Advocate. Lead.

She Leads brings together emerging young women leaders for an interactive learning experience that connects climate knowledge with practical leadership and advocacy skills.

LEARN: Understand the climate challenge.

Explore the science of climate change, its impacts on Caribbean communities and the particular vulnerabilities and priorities of Small Island Developing States.

ENGAGE: Understand how climate decisions are made.

Learn about international climate governance, policy frameworks, negotiations and the institutions shaping climate action at national, regional and global levels.

NEGOTIATE: Experience climate diplomacy in action.

Step into a simulated climate negotiation, navigate competing priorities, develop positions and practise negotiation, diplomacy and consensus-building.

ADVOCATE: Find your voice on climate issues.

Strengthen public speaking, policy communication and advocacy skills to articulate informed perspectives and engage effectively in climate conversations.

LEAD: Turn knowledge into meaningful participation.

Identify opportunities to contribute to climate initiatives, engage communities, collaborate with peers and pursue leadership in climate and sustainable development.

Our Signature Experience

The Mock Climate Negotiation.

Step into the room where climate decisions are made. One of the defining features of She Leads is its Mock Climate Negotiation Simulation. Participants experience the complexities of climate diplomacy by assuming roles, representing different interests and working through issues that reflect the realities of international climate negotiations. Through this immersive experience, participants have opportunities to practise: Negotiation and diplomacy, Policy analysis and communication, Public speaking and persuasion, Strategic thinking and problem-solving, Collaboration and consensus-building and Leadership under pressure. The simulation helps participants appreciate that effective climate advocacy requires not only passion, but preparation, knowledge and the ability to navigate complex decisions.

Our Inaugural Edition

The inaugural She Leads Climate Advocacy Programme took place on 23–24 May 2026 at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Trinidad and Tobago.

The two-day experience brought together emerging young women leaders for interactive learning, dialogue and practical exercises focused on climate change, governance, advocacy and leadership.

Participants explored climate issues through a Caribbean perspective, engaged with professionals and facilitators, and participated in a Mock Climate Negotiation Simulation designed to bring climate diplomacy to life.

The inaugural edition established an important foundation for the programme’s continued development and its ambition to expand opportunities for young women to engage in climate leadership.

Programme Partners

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Her Voice Belongs in the Climate Conversation.

The Caribbean needs informed, engaged and capable young leaders who can help shape a more resilient and sustainable future. She Leads is helping young women prepare to be part of that future; not simply as observers, but as informed participants, advocates and leaders.