Yola Mgogwana

Yola Mgogwana (born 2008) is a South African climate activist, from Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Mgogwana started her activism in 2019, at just eleven years old when she started working for environment. It was after she became interested in pollution, irregular weather patterns and a water problem in her country, she has inspired many youths in South Africa to join her in her fight for climate justice. Mgogwana has often been treated as South Africa's equivalent of Greta Thunberg.
Life.
Mgogwana is a student at Yolomela Primary School in Khayelitsham one of Cape Town's most poorest suburbs. Her environmental educator is Xoli Fuyani. Her educator is both a mentor and a key collaborator in her work. Her educator is also the Environmental Education Coordinator at the Earthchild Project. It is a non-profit organization Mgogwana is connected with.
Climate activism.
Mgogwana has been an active presenter in schools. She has repeatedly attempted the South African government to take immediate action on climate change. In January 2019, she began volunteering with the Earthchild Project Eco-Warriors. It is an afterschool program. It aims to combine leadership training, life skills and environmental education. The Earthchild Project is a non-profit organization. It aimed to bring environmental education into communities and classrooms that did not already have access to this knowledge.
In March 2019, she joined her first youth climate march outside Cape Town's Parliament. She was demanding better policies and justice. During this event, she spoke to an audience of 2,000 youth in Cape Town about climate justice.
In August 2019, she was a keynote speaker at the 's symposium on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Gender and Climate Change Resilience in Johannesburg. Her work fits within the increasing recognition amongst youth worldwide. She was working for her generation the most severe . However, they would have contributed little to the devastation of the environment. Her activism has been inspired by the Zulu word "", meaning "I am, because you are".
As of 2022, the African Climate Alliance, Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action, and groundWork, Mgogwana is currently involved with the youth-led #CancelCoal court case to prevent the South African government's coal fleet expansion in Mpumalanga.
Media mentions.
Mgogwana has received recognition in both national and international media as a notable young climate activist. Mgogwana has been given recognition for being South Africa's equivalent of Greta Thunberg.