ZenGuardians gave us the tools, the confidence, and the resources to lead climate conversations in our own communities.
— ZenGuardian Participant, Cohort One
— about
ZenGuardians is the train-the-trainer arm of ZenCafe by The Eco-anxiety Africa Project (TEAP). Over ten transformative weeks, participants gain the skills, language, and leadership capacity to champion climate and mental health in their communities. Each graduate is awarded a micro-grant to create and run their own ZenCafe, expanding a continent-wide movement of safe, community-led spaces to process eco-anxiety together.
nº 01
Where ZenGuardians have been so far
Cohort One spans Ghana (Accra), Kenya (Nairobi), South Africa (Durban), Uganda (Kampala), and Nigeria (Lagos and Abuja).
nº 02
Cohort One — Durban, South Africa
Paleni Iyer has worked on climate anxiety with UNESCO MGIEP and spoke about Eco-Anxiety at the Y20 Summit in Brazil.
Sindiswani Sokhela is an eco-preneneur and Climate Champion, fostering a healthier planet through eco-friendly innovation and action.
Seyuran Pilay is a social impact leader with experience in grassroots activism and community work.
Ntokozo Mhlongo is an environmental advocate and planning student passionate about climate justice, youth empowerment, and community resilience.
Sindiswani Sokhela is an eco-preneneur and Climate Champion, fostering a healthier planet through eco-friendly innovation and action.
Seyuran Pilay is a social impact leader with experience in grassroots activism and community work.
Ntokozo Mhlongo is an environmental advocate and planning student passionate about climate justice, youth empowerment, and community resilience.
nº 03
Cohort One — Lagos, Nigeria
Emeka Christian is a climate actor and founder of the Coalition of African Youths in Modern Agriculture (COAYIMA), which mobilises young people to become climate-smart agricultural champions across Nigeria and Africa.
Oladunjoye Bolatito is a climate actor and final-year nursing student who successfully leads community projects, including the Yellow Fever project in Lagos, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Okobi Buchi Precious is a dedicated community pharmacist with a passion for climate and mental health advocacy and experience in organising health awareness campaigns on topics like breast cancer, diabetes, and HIV in underserved communities.
Precious Onawumni is a multifaceted professional — a pastor, nurse, and dedicated mental health advocate. She is the founder of a writing academy.
Oladunjoye Bolatito is a climate actor and final-year nursing student who successfully leads community projects, including the Yellow Fever project in Lagos, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Okobi Buchi Precious is a dedicated community pharmacist with a passion for climate and mental health advocacy and experience in organising health awareness campaigns on topics like breast cancer, diabetes, and HIV in underserved communities.
Precious Onawumni is a multifaceted professional — a pastor, nurse, and dedicated mental health advocate. She is the founder of a writing academy.
nº 04
Cohort One — Kampala, Uganda
Muhindo Ernest Emmanuel is a passionate youth leader, climate advocate, and entrepreneur from Uganda. He champions sustainable development, leads community initiatives, and empowers young people through leadership forums and innovation. With a vision for impact, he uses advocacy and action to drive change at the grassroots and beyond.
Sharon Natukunda is a Climate Justice Activist and an Entrepreneur with a broad skill set in Environmental Education, Clean Energy, Reproductive health, and Business Skills Training. Sharon is the 2nd Runners-Up Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda, founder of Green Homeland Initiative, and a Business Coach under the POWER program supported by Action4 Health Uganda.
Ndyowe Grace is the Assistant Communications Officer at Global Earth Care Uganda. Grace is a proactive and committed advocate for sustainable, long-term change. He is also a passionate policy enthusiast, science communicator, and mentor, dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving transformative impact in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
Ngabo Saad is a dedicated teacher and passionate advocate for climate justice and disability rights. As a Youth Advisory Committee member and Youth Country Coordinator with Twezuule Foundation, he drives positive change, empowers young people, and promotes inclusive development with a strong background in education and a heart for social justice.
Sharon Natukunda is a Climate Justice Activist and an Entrepreneur with a broad skill set in Environmental Education, Clean Energy, Reproductive health, and Business Skills Training. Sharon is the 2nd Runners-Up Miss Climate Change Awareness Uganda, founder of Green Homeland Initiative, and a Business Coach under the POWER program supported by Action4 Health Uganda.
Ndyowe Grace is the Assistant Communications Officer at Global Earth Care Uganda. Grace is a proactive and committed advocate for sustainable, long-term change. He is also a passionate policy enthusiast, science communicator, and mentor, dedicated to fostering collaboration and driving transformative impact in biodiversity conservation and climate resilience.
Ngabo Saad is a dedicated teacher and passionate advocate for climate justice and disability rights. As a Youth Advisory Committee member and Youth Country Coordinator with Twezuule Foundation, he drives positive change, empowers young people, and promotes inclusive development with a strong background in education and a heart for social justice.
nº 05
ZenAdvisors
ZenGuardians is strengthened by the guidance of an advisory board of leading experts, who have informed the programme’s design and delivery. TEAP and GAYO are proud to work alongside advisors whose expertise ensures the project is impactful and community-led.
Dr Cathy-Mae Karelse (she/her) is a scholar-practitioner, facilitator, and public speaker specialising in race, belonging, and systems change. With over 20 years’ experience, she works across policy, community, and global programmes to address structural inequality and cultivate collective leadership. She is the author of Disrupting White Mindfulness and currently serves as Climate Youth Resilience Global Lead.
Tolulope Theresa Gbenro is an award-winning social impact consultant working across climate action, renewable energy, youth governance, and women’s empowerment. She serves on the AU-EU Youth Action Lab Advisory Board and YOUNGO’s AYM4COP working group, and leads Monitoring and Evaluation at the Youth Sustainable Development Network. Tolulope is a Future Africa Award finalist, ELOY nominee, and recipient of multiple leadership and climate policy awards.
Margaret Impraim works at the intersection of environmental justice, climate governance, and gender equality within youth-led movements in sub-Saharan Africa. She is the Global Coordinator for the Youth Climate Councils Global Alliance at Green Africa Youth Organization, supporting youth councils across Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Margaret also serves on Nigeria’s National Youth Action Group on Climate Change.
Yvonne A. Ochieng is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Duke University, specialising in global mental health, trauma-informed care, and youth wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. She has supported the design and evaluation of psychosocial interventions across multiple African countries and published research in leading journals, including Nature. Yvonne brings over a decade of experience in safeguarding, participatory approaches, and culturally grounded mental health care.
Dr Cathy-Mae Karelse (she/her) is a scholar-practitioner, facilitator, and public speaker specialising in race, belonging, and systems change. With over 20 years’ experience, she works across policy, community, and global programmes to address structural inequality and cultivate collective leadership. She is the author of Disrupting White Mindfulness and currently serves as Climate Youth Resilience Global Lead.
Tolulope Theresa Gbenro is an award-winning social impact consultant working across climate action, renewable energy, youth governance, and women’s empowerment. She serves on the AU-EU Youth Action Lab Advisory Board and YOUNGO’s AYM4COP working group, and leads Monitoring and Evaluation at the Youth Sustainable Development Network. Tolulope is a Future Africa Award finalist, ELOY nominee, and recipient of multiple leadership and climate policy awards.
Margaret Impraim works at the intersection of environmental justice, climate governance, and gender equality within youth-led movements in sub-Saharan Africa. She is the Global Coordinator for the Youth Climate Councils Global Alliance at Green Africa Youth Organization, supporting youth councils across Africa, Latin America, and Europe. Margaret also serves on Nigeria’s National Youth Action Group on Climate Change.
Yvonne A. Ochieng is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Duke University, specialising in global mental health, trauma-informed care, and youth wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. She has supported the design and evaluation of psychosocial interventions across multiple African countries and published research in leading journals, including Nature. Yvonne brings over a decade of experience in safeguarding, participatory approaches, and culturally grounded mental health care.
— impact
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