Esther Kelechi Agbarakwe met the Earth Charter in 2006 in Calabar, Nigeria. She participated in an Earth Charter E-Glo (Earth Charter Global Learning Opportunity) training programme that taught her about using your voice through social media, communications, and blogging to build a sustainable future. In 2016 she went on to work as an Advisor to the Ministry of the Environment in Nigeria and now works as the Climate and SDG Action officer for the United Nations Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth.
“My favorite Earth Charter Principle is the first one- Care for the Community of Life. I love it because it makes me feel more connected to the human species and everything that is on Earth—whether it is a fly, a human being, or a plant. The Earth Charter was really my first entry into environmental issues. Its principles expanded my mind to see things differently (unusual as it may be where I come from). It could really interest you to know that Earth Charter covers a whole wide range of issues, from faith to humanity.
I still have my Earth Charter in Action book in my room. I don´t joke with it. I read it a lot. It reminds you where you´re going. It gives you that inspiration to keep going because it´s hard sometimes. It´s fun a lot of the time, but you always get to a crossroad at some point in your life. You have to look back and see that we´ve come a long way.”
In this video, Esther explains how she came to know the Earth Charter and how it continues to inspire her in her work today. To read her full interview conducted in November 2016 by past Earth Charter Youth Projects Coordinator, Sarah Dobson, go here.