{"id":196494,"date":"2023-12-01T13:29:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T13:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tokenstalk.info\/?p=196494"},"modified":"2023-12-01T13:29:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T13:29:26","slug":"express-christmas-campaign-teenager-worries-for-future-over-climate-fears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tokenstalk.info\/world-news\/express-christmas-campaign-teenager-worries-for-future-over-climate-fears\/","title":{"rendered":"Express Christmas campaign – teenager worries for future over climate fears"},"content":{"rendered":"

A teenager\u2019s future in Zambia dangles precariously on the fraying threads of environmental turmoil.<\/p>\n

Grade six student Leah, 16, described how climate change could \u201cshatter\u201d her education.<\/p>\n

The animated youngster is sometimes forced to miss school for up to two weeks when intense flooding during the rainy season makes the sand roads to her school, nearly two miles away, unreachable.<\/p>\n

Speaking on the steps of Chikowa Primary School, she said: \u201cMy education might be ruined if climate change continues and high temperatures continue. It could destroy the crops that we depend on then we\u2019ll be unable to produce what we need in a year. For example, if we only produce 13 bags of maize, and have to sell some of them for books and stationery. If we can\u2019t afford those things then my education will be shattered.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI won\u2019t be able to cross roads to get to school because of flooding either. It\u2019s happened several times. Whenever there\u2019s floods, I can\u2019t come to school. If it has rained heavily, it could take more than a week for water levels to drop. The longest period of time I haven\u2019t come to school because of floods is two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t feel good when I\u2019m absent from school because sometimes at home there might be no food. So I also miss food at school so I don\u2019t feel good.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe longest I\u2019ve gone without food at home is two days or three days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Leah, who hopes to be a nurse, told how she begins to shiver from weakness when she goes hungry.<\/p>\n

The school pupil is determined to venture to school come rain or shine because of Mary\u2019s Meals, a UK charity that provides a fortified cup of porridge to learners every day.<\/p>\n

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Generous Express readers have already donated several thousand pounds to our Chritsmas appeal which is supporting the organisation\u2019s efforts to feed children in poverty.<\/p>\n

Agnes, a mother of four, said: \u201cI\u2019m very grateful to Mary\u2019s Meals for helping to ensure the children have food at school, even if they can\u2019t eat at home. It gives me huge relief.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I fail to find food for my children, it\u2019s very painful as a parent. But I\u2019m very hopeful that when the children eat at school, the children are much better. My wish is that Mary\u2019s Meals continues because it\u2019s a relief to parents and helps the children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Farmer Agnes told how she produced 16 bags of maize last year but warned costs of fertiliser, the inconsistent rainy season and rising temperatures have impacted her crops.<\/p>\n

She said: \u201cI\u2019m worried about climate change and the impact it has. For example, it\u2019s started raining now so we may plant our crops but we\u2019re not sure if the rain will continue. Crops may start germinating and then the rains might stop. We have lots of worries because we don\u2019t know what will happen. We could even face droughts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis district is also hit by unexpected floods.\u201d<\/p>\n

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