Brazzaville:The environmental activist Destie Issanga and international volunteer Jemima Obandza engaged young people in Brazzaville on November 5, focusing on the importance of preserving the Congo Basin and climate reciprocity to encourage their commitment to environmental protection.
According to Agence Congolaise d’Information, Mme Obandza emphasized that climate concerns involve everyone, not just political entities or institutions, and highlighted the potential for individual actions to contribute to change. Her remarks were made following a workshop dedicated to climate reciprocity and civic engagement.
Mme Issanga, who led a workshop on voluntarism, discussed the need for a collaborative approach involving public authorities, the private sector, civil society organizations, and youth in creating sustainable management policies for the Congo Basin forests. She also stressed the importance of establishing a legal framework to support youth involvement.
She explained that when public authorities set guidelines for forest preservation, organizations work to implement them, and volunteers play a crucial role in achieving these goals and promoting good forest governance. Volunteering, she noted, involves joining an organization for a specific period to advocate for a cause and contribute to sustainable development objectives.
Participants Mme Parfaite Floria Bilolo and M. Ben Hardi expressed their satisfaction with the workshops. M. Hardi mentioned gaining a more responsible perspective, while Mme Bilolo stated her desire to get involved, recognizing the importance of nature preservation for the future of countries and communities.
The workshops, under the themes "Reciprocity and Citizen Engagement for Climate African-European Perspectives" and "Volunteering for Governance in the Congo Basin," were part of the fifth edition of Forestival. Organized by France Volontaires, this edition took place from November 2 to 6, 2026, in Pointe-Noire, Dolisie, and Brazzaville.