As we celebrate eight years of climate action, we’re taking a moment to reflect on the journey through the voices of some of our Climate Champions.
2017
The Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council was born out of a happy accident. At the time, Professor Dale Webber of the Climate Change Advisory Board (CCAB) indicated that the CCAB was looking to do more youth outreach and was interested in forming a youth council. I was brand new to the climate/environment space, so I reached out to the only other environmentalist I knew at the time, Keli-Anne, to see if we could get a youth council started.
The JCCYC idea sprang from a single tweet, which went on to get over 88 responses from young people who wanted to be involved in climate change advocacy. Keli and I knew that we had to capitalize on the momentum immediately, so even before the CCAB was ready for us, we had our first meeting, formed our first executive committee, and launched Our Footprint JA on April 22, 2017.
Our first executive committee was inducted by Professor Webber in June of 2017, and we spent most of the year focusing on putting on our “Big Event” (which is actually what we called it for months leading up to the event). On October 18, 2017, we held our first youth climate expo under the theme “Go Green”. The expo was a learning experience for everyone. We were new to the scene, had no name recognition, no money, very little experience, and we did everything ourselves (including event setup and decor).
While we had a bit of a rocky start, that year also marked the beginning of an ongoing relationship of support from Una-May Gordon, climate champion and mentor extraordinaire, who was the then-Principal Director of the Climate Change Division. Although the turnout at the event was minuscule, we had established a proof of concept and proved ourselves to be the next generation of climate activists.
At the end of the day, the JCCYC could not have done this alone. Partnership is key, even now, but especially in those early days. We would not have survived without support and collaboration from the Mitigation & Action Against Climate Change Group (MACC) – shout out to Antonio & Howard, two MACC stalwarts who were a part of that first executive team. We also benefited from collaborations with Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN), Jamaica, and other regional chapters.
I also want to highlight the first company to believe in the JCCYC, and that’s Solarbuzz Jamaica. I remember the day Keli and I took a taxi down to the Solarbuzz office on Haining Road to pitch our crazy idea for an expo to Jason. Shockingly, he didn’t shoo us out of the office – quite the opposite actually. That day was the beginning of a long relationship between the JCCYC and Solarbuzz, who continued to support us throughout the years in various capacities.
8 years later, we are so proud of everything we have accomplished. There is much more work to be done, but we hope that we have been able to inspire the next generation of youth to be fearless champions for a better future.
– Eleanor Terrelonge (Founder & Executive Director)
2017-2018
When I joined the JCCYC in 2017, I had hoped to volunteer my time to a worthy cause. What I found was so much more. The council proved to be a group of like-minded individuals committed to making a mark in the environmental space. With every activity and event, we laughed, cried, and invited everyone to learn right alongside us.
We used our inexperience to our advantage as it allowed us to present the concept of climate change to our audience in fresh, new ways. One such stroke of brilliance saw us partnering with local creatives, “Team Awesome”, for a series exploring the “wonders” of Jamaica and how they have been affected by climate change. We loaded up the car on a Sunday evening to drive all across the island and conduct interviews/shoot content. After a long but successful day in Treasure Beach and Bluefields, we started our journey back to Kingston and (everyone’s favorite Sunday evening TV show), only to hit a goat and blow our radiator in the process. We spent hours stranded with no goat to show for it; just our determination and a beautiful video you can still find on YouTube (check it out here!). That is one of my favorite JCCYC memories, as this day not only bonded us as a young group, but it also helped me find just where I fit in the council.
My role has evolved quite a bit over the years, but at its core, the purpose remains the same. Similarly, the council has matured (to a ripe age of 8!), but fundamentally, our passion is consistent. It is an honour to be a part of everything we have achieved, and I look forward to what the next 8 years hold for the Climate Champions of the JCCYC.
– Moya Fagan (Director, Communications & Branding)
2019
I joined the JCCYC in 2019 while I was in high school after finding them online. I had been passionate about the environment and nature since childhood, so I was excited to join a group of like-minded individuals where I could not only learn more about climate change but also actually participate in climate action. I had the amazing opportunity of participating in a climate retreat held at Moorlands camp, where I was able to connect with so many intelligent, caring, and passionate climate activists, and I learned so much about climate change and how we can take action as youth. This retreat helped to strengthen my passion for climate action and advocacy, and I am now not only pursuing a career related to fighting climate change, but I am also a part of the JCCYC Exec as the Technical Officer of Science, Research, and Advocacy. I am so glad to be a part of the JCCYC and can’t wait to see what we can accomplish together!
– Rachel Miller (Technical Officer, Science, Research & Advocacy)
2020
I first joined the JCCYC as a part of the Youth Environment Ambassador (YEA) program. I was in my last year of high school and looking for an interesting volunteer program. I’ve wanted to work in conservation for as long as I can remember, so this program was the perfect fit.
The idea of working with real activists was intimidating at first. Everyone in the program seemed to be older than me and knew exactly what they wanted to do with their lives. Everyone was so friendly and willing to share their wisdom; however, it didn’t take long for that intimidation to be replaced by admiration for the hardworking people I was working with.
I’d always seen climate change as a problem that would have to be solved by science, so learning about the importance of legal and political advocacy was surprising. It made me rethink the skills I would need to make the kind of difference I wanted to. That reflection helped me to decide what I wanted to study at university. I stuck with marine biology like I had always planned, but I decided to augment that by also studying graphic design and film, so I could communicate with the public, the people responsible for demanding the kind of action that creates real change. That decision led me back to the JCCYC, this time volunteering with the PR team, which has been an incredible experience so far. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with the team.
-Rhys Bennett (Graphics Contributor)
2021
My journey with the Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council (JCCYC) began through the guidance of my mentor, who recognized the value it could bring to both my personal growth and professional development. Initially, I joined to strengthen my resume with meaningful volunteer work, but the experience quickly evolved into a deeper commitment to climate advocacy. Starting as a Youth Environmental Ambassador (YEA) in the Planning Department, I was introduced to project coordination, strategic communication, and policy awareness; all vital skills for navigating the professional world. This role sharpened my ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, contribute to environmental initiatives, and understand the broader impact of youth involvement in climate action.
As a youth in agriculture, I naturally found ways to bridge the gap between climate change and agricultural sustainability. Through my involvement in the JCCYC, I’ve advocated for climate-smart farming practices, engaged in awareness campaigns promoting resilience among small farmers, and contributed to workshops that highlighted the intersection of food systems and environmental stewardship. I believe agriculture is one of the frontlines of climate impact, and youth voices are essential in driving innovation and resilience in the sector. My work has empowered me to champion sustainable farming solutions while fostering community engagement, showing that climate action and agriculture must go hand in hand for a food-secure future.
-J’quan Morrisson (PR Contributor)
2022
My time volunteering with JCCYC was heartwarming and inspiring. I started as a volunteer, of course. Just being a part of the journey, learning and growing and making a real change alongside other young people that I met throughout projects and cleanups; It made me feel like I’m part of a big family that cares about a better Jamaica, and that’s hard to find, especially within my age group.
– Sheyenne Leslie (Coordinator, Communications, Engagement & Public Relations)
2023
I discovered the JCCYC in 2023 after researching the work of its founder, Eleanor, through a school project. I was just breaking into the environmental space and was actively seeking community. Becoming a volunteer was the start of my climate journey. Since it was still during the COVID-19 period, everything was still mostly online. That meant I did not have the chance to meet other members in person or attend on-the-ground activities right away. But even through the screen, I could feel the energy and dedication of the group. I learned so much during that time about climate justice, youth advocacy, and the different ways we can contribute to environmental change. JCCYC became my gateway into a wider world of activism. The knowledge, exposure, and connections gained through the council opened the doors for me to get involved with all the organizations and opportunities that I had not known existed. While I did not meet many people face-to-face until 2024, 2023 laid the groundwork for all the advocacy that came after.
– Rodrina Daley (Coordinator, Special Projects & Initiatives)
2024
Though I may have started my journey in climate action with JCCYC in 2019, I really got my footing in 2022 with the Deep Sea Mining Campaigns. Then the campaign itself really gained traction in 2024. Don’t get me wrong, the passion for the environment was always there (since childhood, really), but in the beginning, I must admit, I felt underskilled and uninformed compared to the brilliant activists around me. I remember hosting lives and having discussions where my voice was literally shaking (and you can scroll far enough on our Instagram to find the proof). It took learning about and advocating around an issue where so little is known that my lack of expertise couldn’t possibly hurt a thing. I learned that our place as activists isn’t always to be the biggest expert but to ask the right questions with the strongest voice for the sake of those who can’t – the environment, species, many times smaller and even bigger than ourselves.
Since I already started admitting things, I’ll go as far as to say, I wasn’t just ignorant of DSM (understandably, as it’s a new industry that even the proponents of which are pretty ignorant), I was also very ignorant around the grandness of the role the ocean played in maintaining balance within our planet and fighting climate change. I’ve always been a tree-hugger through and through, with a healthy fear of the ocean that I share with a lot of my fellow Jamaicans. If anyone had told me just a few years ago that I would’ve taught myself how to swim and wanted to take it even a step further to shoot for a diving license (though I’m not even close), I would’ve been absolutely shocked.
It was through this campaign that I was given the opportunity to travel to Antigua & Barbuda for the SIDS 4 conference (through CANARI) and met many activists around the Caribbean doing work in their own communities. From there, the JCCYC was able to join the Stronger Caribbean Network and tap into the expertise of lifelong activists across the Caribbean. Since then, our goal has been to create partnerships and strengthen connections within the council and beyond.
Becoming a stronger advocate for the environment led me to become more self-actualized in so many ways.
I say whatever you want to do, start where you are, do what you can. Start with the passion, and the rest will come.
– Dahvia Hylton (President)
2025
Now is the time for YOU to join us on the journey and write your own JCCYC story, join the movement, and play your part in advancing climate action. We are waiting for you!
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