Watch the video above to see each one of our 2026 EARTH Meetups.
This April, Planeteer Alliance powered 15 youth-led Meetup Events focused on the EARTH Element—gathering over 228 young people across The Gambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Nigeria, and Cameroon. These Meetups centered on topics such as transforming our food systems to be more equitable and regenerative, reducing food waste, restoring and protecting the health of our soil systems, planting more native species, and protecting forests.
Climate solutions in the EARTH Element also contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2: Zero Hunger; to promote sustainable agriculture and SDG 15: Life on Land; to protect, restore and promote sustainable agriculture.
Across all EARTH Meetups, Planeteers planted 202 trees, diverted 426 kg of waste from landfills, and created 231 kg of compost.
RWANDA
In Rwanda, Planeteer Samuel Shema Sonny hosted an EARTH Meetup in Kagina, Kamonyi, where 13 participants came together to explore practical solutions for reducing food waste and building a sustainable, zero-waste community through action and innovation.
Not only did this Meetup raise awareness about organic waste management, but Samuel Shema was able to demonstrate real-life composting solutions that can be applied at the household and community level– such as the Bokashi system used by the local farming community.
Participants also took part in a clean-up activity in which 211 kg of organic waste was collected at the community market.
“For me, I believe that if we do not manage our food waste properly, we are not just wasting food, we are destroying soil and increasing pollution in our own community,” said one participant at Samuel Shema’s EARTH Meetup.
KENYA
In Kenya, 14-year-old Planeteer and first-time Meetup Host Wendy Norberta hosted a community clean-up activity and an educational discussion based on sustainable waste management practices in Katani Market, Machakos County. She engaged fellow youth, community members, business people, and even transport operators directly.
During the cleanup activity, the Meetup participants were able to sort through 25kg of waste, learning how to separate plastic and biodegradable material.
Wendy’s EARTH Meetup increased awareness about waste management, encouraged behaviour change, and created space for community participation in tackling local environmental solutions.
NIGERIA
In Nigeria, Victoria Benson hosted an EARTH Meetup in Lagos, which brought together a dedicated group of 13 youth to learn about the importance of home gardening and composting.
They conducted a gardening session where they planted 44 seedlings at Kids Beach Garden, inside the Shoreline Resorts in Okun Ajah.
Victoria partnered with Kids Beach Garden, a local organisation situated within Shoreline Resort. Miss Doyin, the owner of this organization, encouraged Meetup participants to plant trees and make gardens in residential areas. She also expressed the importance of daring to be different and teaching people around them to do the same.
In a city like Lagos, where people believe that growing food or nature often belongs in the rural areas, the event encouraged participants to take action by composting food scraps and upcycling what they have at home to effectively grow a garden themselves.
“Planting seems easy, but it is actually not easy,” said Victoria. “So we should all give ourselves a break and be patient with ourselves and our plants. Even professionals had a lot of trial and error before they got to where they are.”
CAMEROON
Moname Praise Tama, a Planeteer from Cameroon, hosted his EARTH Meetup in Koke Community, Buea, which brought together 20 young participants for a hands-on environmental action event focused on tackling plastic pollution and promoting sustainable community practices. The Koke Community faces a waste management challenge. Moname used this Meetup as an opportunity to train participants and community members on proper waste handling and disposal methods to ensure safety and effectiveness.
Moname plans to sustain his Meetup impact through continued youth-led environmental activities in the Koke Community. He also shared the aim of organizing regular clean-ups and awareness sessions on sustainable waste management, providing an opportunity to build on the discussions from this event while developing new youth leaders.
THE GAMBIA
In the Gambia, Lamin Kanteh hosted his EARTH Meetup in Kolior, which brought together eight participants to discuss deforestation and the importance of tree planting and tree planting techniques. Deforestation in the Gambia is a major issue, and is caused by cutting down trees for timber business and charcoal production. Addressing this problem is very important for the local community as it creates a sense of responsibility and behaviour change among community members.
Planeteer Alliance supports four opportunities to host a Meetup annually, each focusing on one of the original Planeteer elements: EARTH, FIRE, WIND, and WATER. With access to funding, tools, and mentorship, Meetup Hosts are given the space to hold an intimate, small-scale event– while honing essential leadership and capacity-building skills. In the process, they develop as environmental leaders ready to serve their communities and the planet for the long term.
April EARTH Element Meetups demonstrate that young people are already taking action in their communities, addressing the various EARTH-related challenges that face them. These Meetups not only encourage place-based solutions, they put the power to implement those solutions into the hands of young people.
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