For generations, Somali farmers have relied on the Gu and Deyr rains, the two annual rainy seasons, to sustain their crops and livestock. But today, due to a changing climate, unpredictable droughts and devastating floods are threatening livelihoods, forcing many to abandon their land and migrate in search of security elsewhere.

“Water is so valuable that if a water catchment or borehole breaks, it inevitably means the community will have to leave their homes,” shares food insecurity expert Abdikadir Dooy, reflecting on the harsh realities many communities face.

In a world where the past is often seen as distant from the present, cities are disconnected from nature, and Western society is contrasted with Indigenous ways of life, Natural Curiosity is shaping a new approach to environmental education.

True to its name, Natural Curiosity harnesses children’s innate curiosity and channels it toward understanding the deep connections between the natural world and Indigenous perspectives, namely their knowledge of land and water that comes from their ongoing relationship to the land. Natural Curiosity is transforming how educators integrate environmental and Indigenous education in the classroom, ensuring that learning is rooted not only in scientific principles, but also in cultural perspectives and lived experiences.

In Jakarta, there is an area called the Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) Archipelago, which consists of 110 small islands, each with an area of no more than 60 square hectares. This area has an essential ecosystem that includes seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangroves, all of which host rich biodiversity. The local community maintains this ecosystem and often uses the shallow waters around the islands to catch fish, search for shellfish, and cultivate seaweed. Meanwhile, the land on the islands is used to grow food crops such as vegetables and fruits. This is done in an effort to provide a substitute for food that was previously supplied from outside the islands.

Last year, 175 organizations participated in the applicant pool of our first-ever global open call, leading to the selection of 24 finalists, of which 4 received grants. You can read more about that process here.

We were moved by the compelling and varied initiatives of activists and practitioners taking action for climate justice and resilience around the globe. Discovering the transformative work of these organizations across diverse contexts has been an inspiring journey, and we are eager to share their stories with our network.

That’s why we’re thrilled to launch “Stories of Action”—a series where, every Tuesday over the next few months, we’ll feature one of the open call finalists on our social media platforms. This initiative seeks to amplify impactful climate justice efforts and inspire organizations, practitioners, and funders within our community.