Raehina The Changemaker — Climate Change & Consciousness

Mount Taranaki in Taranaki, Aotearoa/ New Zealand.

Introduction from Stephanie Mines

Lisa Rimbach had a vision of mature women with a commitment to Mother Earth sponsoring the climate activism of younger women passionate to make a difference in a climate changing world. Lisa voiced her vision when she started attending the Groundswell courses for women leaders. Shortly after CCC partnered with OzGreen to present YOUth LEADing the World, fulfilling CCC’s commitment to youth leadership, Lisa jumped on board. That was where she first met Raehina Bullock, a young Maori woman. The women in the Groundswell program encouraged Lisa to proceed with her vision and thus the link with Raehina was born. Now Lisa will share with you how Raehina crosses the threshold into a new cycle of her life.

At a time when structures that no longer support us dissolve rapidly throughout the world, Climate Change & Consciousness raises up the voices of the changemakers: women and youth. Join us in supporting co-creative climate activism through cheering on Raehina Bullock in Taranaki!

Eleven-Year-Old Maori Youth Emerges As A Climate Activist: The Inspirational Forces of CCC and YOUth LEADing the World

By Lisa Rimbach

When Raehina Bullock attended the first meeting organized by Climate Change & Consciousness for YOUth LEADing the World she did not know how passionate she was about climate activism. She was following her mother's invitation. But after she met the other young people from Africa, Australia, the US, Latin America and Asia she was excited, inspired and taking it all in. She was the youngest person the call, so she felt a bit shy at first Yet something was building inside her. The more she learned, the more this excitement grew. By the time she had completed the series of meetings she had a sense of direction for herself.

Raehina lives in Taranaki, a region of the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, named for it's majestic Mt. Taranaki. Raehina lives with her mother Corryn and her grandparents in a small coastal village called Oakura. A private school had just opened nearby called the Green School that had an environmental curriculum. Raehina decided to apply to that school and ask for a scholarship. Her application was successful—which changed her whole life! Can you imagine being eleven years old and knowing that you want to be a climate activist?

Before participating in YLTW Raehina said she knew, "There was plastic in the ocean and rubbish around but I didn't know all the other stuff." She said the YOUth LEADing the World Congress was, "really eye opening". Another aspect of the Congress she loved was, "being on the computer with young people of different nationalities, hearing what their problems are and what ideas they had for solving them."

It was then that Raehina, seeing what's happening to the world, said to herself, “I have to help. I am going to try and get in the Green School. I know I can do it."

Raehina's application expressed her interest in ecocide, fracking and waterway health, including protecting Taranaki’s native eel population.. She starts at the Green School in February!

CCC will follow Raehina through her Green School experience. Her evolution reflects the joint commitment of CCC and OzGreen, sponsor of YOUth LEADing the World, to the leadership of youth and young women in particular who are passionate voices for our living earth.

Stay tuned to hear more about Raehina's leadership and climate activism in Taranaki where water pollution, coastal rubbish accumulation and fracking are major issues and where climate activism is not popular. How will this young woman meet the challenges of switching schools, taking a stand for Mother Earth and educating herself about the issues that matter to her?