One of the most important aspects of this Copenhaen conference for me is how interconnected the youth are.

The Conference of Youth really demonstrated the diversity here in Copenhagen as well as showing me how passionate people from all walks of life are about climate change.

Our UK Youth Delegation helped to fundraise for 15 members of the Kenyan Youth Delegation to attend COP15. When I realised that I may be able to aid in the chance for the Kenyans to come to Copenhagen and fight for an issue which is affecting their lives head on, I was extremely proud of what our delegation were doing.

We have three Kenyans staying with us in our hostel, namely Waiganjo, Papa and Stephen. These individuals are amazing. Their thoughts and backgrounds are so diverse and they are extremely insightful and passionate about climate change and how it affects them. I am so privileged to have met them and be apart of their lives at this time in history.

To get to know each other better and actually attempt to have a social life in Copenhagen (yes that can happen) our delegation and the Kenyans went for dinner in downtown Copenhagen. What an amazing night we had. The night involved eating, drinking, laughing, dancing, concentrating and conversing, all in the space of two hours or so. Papa, after we all ate way to much at the buffet restaurant, decided that we would do a group exercise which was designed to help us all get to know each other better and involved A LOT of concentration. Let’s just say I was a little over excited and lost my nerve many many times!

All of the Kenyans that I have been privileged to meet are determined, inspiring, motivated, creative and serious about climate change because they witness first hand the detrimental effects of what it means to be hungry, to be thirsty, to not have access to the natural resources you need to make a living and probably most importantly of not being able to make their voices heard in what should be the most simplest thing of all to do – give them their freedom back.

What an inspiring bunch of people. I can’t wait for the moments we will share at this conference and beyond into the future.

Sarah Irwin

Sarah Irwin, the only Northern Irish representative on independent delegation group UKYCC, is attending the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen. You can join her blog here