Deep in the valleys and mountains of Mahwemasimike, in Honde Valley, the brunt of climate change is reaching a fever pitch level. Jokoniya (not his real name) is a young eight year old child who has started brick moulding, in order to supplement household income. The valley precincts are located very close to neighbouring Mozambique, such that some people travel back and forth to look for livelihood in both countries.

Jokoniya has had to start fending for the family through brick moulding due to the fact that it is not possible to do effective rain-fed agriculture due to climate change and shift in weather patterns and also his parents are not staying with him. He must take care of himself and his siblings.

Children bear the brunt of climate change especially if their parents are deceased or abandon them due to domestic disputes. International sustainability frameworks aim to protect young children from strenuous work. The current patterns of climate change put such children in a place of hard rock as they try to establish livelihoods options in the age of climate change.

Crops normally grown in the area include maize, yams, sugarcane, sugar beans. Bananas and avocados are also available in the area. Stronger support mechanisms for climate adaptation, climate smart agriculture are necessary in order to ensure that there is optimum use of soil moisture and there is increased output of produce and revenue.

For young children like Jokoniya, climate change has brought a situation needing drastic action of work activities, some which are not agro-based. The Green Business Gazette in the latest issue of “Climate Change and Children” urges families to prioritise education of children and climate mitigation and adaptation strategies which promote sustainable socio-economic development.

As the world darts towards a 2 degrees celsius increased mark, it is becoming clear that more young children will have to take a route which puts them at risk of hard labour.

Failing to address the issue of climate change results in children venturing into activities such as brick moulding and illegal mining, just to ensure that they get resources for survival.

Author

  • Tawanda Muzamwese

    Tawanda Collins Muzamwese is the Editor in Chief of the Green Business Gazette Magazine. He is is an international consultant in sustainable business development with massive experience in training, consulting and auditing. He has facilitated capacity development in more than 100 enterprises drawn from over 30 countries. He is the founder of the sustainability think-tank called Toxiconsol Consultancy t/a African Sustainability Consultants. He is the Editor in Chief of the Green Business Gazette Magazine. He is a consultant and business coach with over 13 years experience. Tawanda is a Management Systems Consultant working on promoting development and implementation of ISO Standards (ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018) in both developed and developing countries. With his inspirational and pragmatic writing style he has written cutting edge books including: 1) How to grow a Side-hustle into a viable business - Overcome Salary Dependency 2) The Leading Consultant: How become an authority in your professional field 3) Step-by-Step Guide to implementing Safety, Health, Environment and Quality Management Systems 4) Stepping on Higher Perspectives: Greatness Tips Motivational Series 5) Sustainability Guidebook for Boards and CEOs: Leading from the front Tawanda writes about sustainability, motivation, safety, health, environment and quality management. His books are relevant to both developed and developing countries. With practical approaches and case studies, he provides incisive insights into entrepreneurship. His philosophy is based on the premise that every human being has potential to make a significant difference in their lifetime. He writes books on taking personal responsibility for progression in life. He motivates entrepreneurs to implement income generating projects and determine their own financial destiny. He also motivates companies to take up sustainability initiatives. A start-up coach, public speaker, environmentalist, safety, health and quality management expert, Muzamwese bridges the gap between theory and practice through building capacity and sharing practical case studies in his books.

    View all posts