In November 2025, the world will gather in Belém, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) — a pivotal moment for shaping global climate action. For indigenous youth and grassroots activists, getting to these decision-making spaces is often nearly impossible due to systemic barriers such as high travel costs, visa restrictions, lack of funding, and exclusion from key networks.

 Concept 

Spring of the Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SASAL) is launching the ‘Kenya to Brazil Walk’, a symbolic journey from Olkiramatian, Kenya, to Belém, Brazil. This walk is a bold statement to highlight the systemic barriers indigenous people face in global climate negotiations and to raise awareness on the need for meaningful participation.

Objectives

1. Highlight systemic barriers faced by indigenous people in climate decision-making spaces.
2. Raise funds to take a delegation of 10 young indigenous climate leaders to COP30.
3. Share indigenous-led solutions such as The Enkang Model — a modern traditional village demonstrating climate adaptation and gender equality.
4. Advocate for meaningful participation by funding delegations, not individuals, in global decision-making forums.

The Enkang Model is SASAL’s flagship initiative, demonstrating a climate-resilient modern traditional village for pastoralist communities. It includes:
– Solar-powered energy solutions
– Modernized traditional houses retaining cultural identity
– Water harvesting techniques
– Livelihood diversification, including sustainable pastoralism
– Capacity building and skills training
– Women’s economic empowerment programs

Opportunities We Are Seeking at COP30

While our symbolic walk from Kenya to Brazil raises awareness of the challenges indigenous communities face in accessing decision-making spaces, our ultimate goal is to ensure meaningful representation at COP30 in Belém. We are actively seeking opportunities such as:
• Inclusion in high-level sessions and plenaries where indigenous perspectives on climate justice can influence global policy.
• Invitations to speak on expert panels focused on climate resilience, indigenous rights, gender equality, and locally-led solutions.
• Space to host side events where we can present SASAL’s Enkang Modern Maasai Village Model as a practical, culturally rooted climate adaptation approach.
• Opportunities to perform indigenous advocacy music that communicates climate justice messages in traditional languages, fostering cultural pride and global awareness.
• Platforms to network with decision-makers, philanthropists, and allies to advance indigenous-led climate action.

These opportunities will not only amplify the voices of our communities but also demonstrate the solutions we are already implementing on the ground.