YouTube aims to inspire the next generation at Earthshot Prize Awards

As part of YouTube’s continued 2 year partnership with leading environmental charity The Earthshot Prize, YouTube activated at The Earthshot Prize Awards Week in Cape Town, South Africa 4-7 November 2024.

YouTube’s presence included workshops, talks and music performances to amplify The Earthshot Prize’s mission through YouTube’s reach and creativity as well as to ignite the next generation of climate activists.

YouTube Creators and Artists at the Awards Week

Thought Leadership

Creator Wode Maya did a keynote talk at Earthshot+ with YouTube’s Regional Director, Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Tarek Amin, in front of an audience that included HRH Prince William and Sub-Saharan African business leaders. While attending UNGA with YouTube, Fisayo Fosudo, also had the opportunity to interview Earthshot’s 2024 finalist NFW.

Inspiring Gen Z

YouTube ran a youth workshop in collaboration with creators Shiv Sewlal and Thato Rampedi. The audience of 120 local South African Youth Leaders were able to learn how to share and amplify their stories, including tips on how to make content supporting environmental issues, how to reach and engage Gen Z, and there was also a live production studio to make and share content.

Leadership reflection

YouTube’s Regional Director, Middle East, Africa & Turkey, Tarek Amin, is excited by the steps taken by the global community to fight climate change and try to make the world a better place for future generations.

“It was amazing to have the event take place in the cradle of humankind, Africa, and use it to highlight one of the most pressing challenges facing humanity in modern days. It's great that we, at YouTube, are able to support such a worthy cause and collaborate with leading global youth to raise awareness about some of the solutions we can bring about in order to have a just and sustainable world in the future.”

Spotlighting local Creators

Creators were invited to walk the ‘green carpet’ at the Awards ceremony including Mlungisi Nkosi , Wide Awake Podcast , Mpoomy Ledwaba , Wode Maya , Ggoldie plus more. The Green Carpet was livestreamed for the first time through The Earthshot’s YouTube channel, allowing a global audience to tune in.

Celebration

To round off the week, local YouTube Artist Ggoldie performed at the Earthshot Prize’s Closing Ceremony at Kirstenbosch Gardens in front of an audience of 400 to spread the message of optimism and celebrate the week’s achievements.

To find out more about the Earthshot Prize Awards, see their YouTube channel here