Franco: the climate change activist changing his community
I produced a short film about Franco, a climate activist in rural Uganda. In this blog for Restless Development, I interviewed Franco about his activism and what inspired him.
When did you start realising the impact climate change is having on your community?
My mum cared for the environment ever since she was young. Before she passed away this year, she always encouraged us to be cautious about the environment. She realised the environment was changing when trees were getting cut down across Karamoja.
In the last 15 years, the climate has become even harsher. The rain is becoming unpredictable and the dry season is becoming hotter.
I make sure I approach the dry season by training farmers on how to use the water systems. When the dry season comes, some communities that still don’t have water systems have little food to eat."
What do you hope the impact of this film will be?
I hope that young people out there who watch the film will interpret and use it in their own communities. I hope it will inspire them.
We all have the capacity to change whatever is important for our people. For my people, it is important to protect the environment.
Me and Watanda, a videographer from Uganda’s creative arts company KQ, filming Franco’s story
A community member who Franco trained to use climate smart agriculture.
Watch Franco’s story
