Africa All Stars Series:@earthnowmedia

Kaluki Paul is a climate advocate empowering young people and communities through storytelling to drive climate action and justice.Tell us what you do and why you chose that space/field ?I’m a climate advocate working at the intersection of nature-based solutions, youth engagement, and impact storytelling. My journey began in 2014 when I volunteered for the deCOALonise campaign, which successfully stopped a proposed coal plant in Lamu. That experience opened my eyes to the power of communication and community action in driving climate justice.Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to empowering young people and grassroots Change Makers through storytelling, strategy, and resource mobilisation.What inspired you to start creating climate content on TikTok? Many would assume this is a complex space, but what do you take on this ?My inspiration to start creating climate content on TikTok came during COP29, where I met TikTok creators using the platform to simplify and humanise complex climate policy discussions. Their approach showed me the power of short-form storytelling to make climate issues relatable and engaging.I realised that while most environmental content is heavy on science and data, it can be made simple, fun, and emotionally resonant. So, I joined TikTok to share climate stories from a human perspective, focusing on everyday experiences that help people understand and connect with environmental issues more easily.Who has been your biggest inspiration for the work that you do?Trash Caulin, a TikTok creator from the USA, has been my biggest inspiration. He simply makes creative content around plastic pollution and waste management, usually creating awareness around beach clean ups and types of waste, and their impact on the environment and on humanity. He is raw, fun, and creative, aspects that I hope I can grow into and deliver more in my creation on the platform.How has TikTok helped you build your community and interact with your audience ?To be honest, I’m still learning and growing on TikTok, exploring its tools, live features, and ways to boost engagement. Hosting my first TikTok Live felt like stepping into a new world, but it allowed me to hold meaningful conversations about the environment with both colleagues and new audiences. I mostly share videos from interviews and my own campaigns, which help keep my community informed and engaged around environmental issues.Please share one of your most inspiring posts and why you think it made a huge impactThis would have to be a clip from an interview I was a guest at the Fixing The Nation program at NTV. The question around deforestation and what citizens can do to protect our forests was so real, as currently there is a lot of deforestation and other challenges hitting our green spaces and forests across Kenya. @earthnowmedia Pt.17 Fixing the Nation - Increased deforestation and encroachment into forests. Where is the line between development and destruction of nature, what role can citizens play in holding leaders accountable, are we properly holding public participation and are we making gree spaces truly accessible to the ordinary citizens? "When people know the value of nature and their resources, they know why they must protect it and safeguard them at all costs." #forestry #deforestation #encroachment #greenspace ♬ original sound - Earth Now Media 🌍 How do you balance making your content engaging while still being informative and impactful?This is still a work in progress, but one of the things I have learnt is that as a creator, I am first a human being before anything else. Therefore, if I have to create content around climate and nature, I have to make it relatable to the daily experiences people have with the environment, and how this impacts them. This approach makes it easy to understand, relate, and see why it matters to take action and care about nature.What advice would you give to someone who wants to start creating content about sustainability content on TikTok?Content is king, and your voice matters. Your voice is your power, use it to educate and inspire the world. Don’t be afraid or hold back. Show up, even when you’re not fully confident. The hardest part is simply getting started. Once you do, you’ll find that every piece of content you create, every interaction, and every bit of audience feedback becomes a lesson that helps you grow. Remember, perfection isn’t the goal. You don’t need to have everything figured out. Just start, plan your content, and stay consistent.