Yusuf*, a class 8 pupil whose family has been affected by the ongoing drought in North Eastern Kenya

The climate crisis facing countries such as Kenya in the Horn of Africa is aggravating the drought impacts. For many in East Africa, the current drought is the worst in living memory. Children are the most and worst affected 

Yusuf* is just one out of 37 million children globally who are missing out on education. Children like him have contributed the least to the climate crisis but are bearing the worst brunt of its impacts.

"The greatest challenge we face here is drought. Sometimes we go to school on empty stomachs. The drought is so bad that we cannot grow food on our land," says Yussuf*.

In East Africa, the increasing frequency of drought is already becoming evident. Before 1999, a drought caused by a poor or failed rainy season happened once every five to six years. Since 1999, poor rainy seasons are occurring every two to three years. Under this current trajectory, the portion of East Africa exposed to drought is expected to increase by up to 54 percent by the end of this century.

A climate crisis is a child rights crisis. Save the Children's latest research on climate change impacts on children (2021) has revealed that millions of children born in the last year will face on average 3 times more extreme weather events than their grandparents. This scenario puts children's rights to a safe home, healthy environment, healthcare, food, and learning at risk.

Yusuf's message echoes what millions of children are going through globally. His voice highlights the struggles that children like him are going through.

Watch the full video here to listen to his story: