Ziada Kassimu is a medical assistant doctor from Tanzania, working with Green Conservers – a youth-led organization and one of 350’s partners in the REPower Afrika campaign. Her journey as a climate activist began years ago, when she was in college. As part of her studies, Ziada visited local communities and villages to understand what was threatening people’s health, especially focusing on women’s and girls’ wellbeing. The answer was unequivocally clear: climate change and fossil fuels.
Tanzania is a major producer of fossil gas, yet more than 30 million people – or about half of the population – lack access to energy. In rural areas, the situation is even worse: less than 2% can rely on electricity for their daily needs. With REPower Afrika, Ziada has been holding periodic meetings with around 100 women and 150 youth in more than 30 villages in the region of Tanga – one of the most affected areas by EACOP. She delivers information about the impacts of the pipeline, and on how to use renewables to improve their lives, exploring the best solutions for them and with them.
“I’m really proud of the work we’ve done so far – from installing solar panels in community facilities, to empowering women and girls with knowledge to fight for a just energy transition. The improvements that clean energy has represented to people’s health and lives in these villages is notable already. And each day we see more women standing up for themselves and their communities.”
In 2025, Ziada hopes to reach more communities affected by EACOP in Tanzania, multiplying REPower Afrika’s impact and making it a model for community-driven energy transition.
This is a story from 350.org’s 2024 Annual Report