Creating a sustainable future for the African child: a solarpunk concept

This article investigates the conceptualization and integration of the formerly known literary genre and art form; now a subgenre of climate activism, solarpunk as a way of building a sustainable future for the African child; a future that takes pride in preserving the planet and creating a safe space for the African child to thrive, survive and develop. Solarpunk is a speculative and optimistic concept that seeks to reimagine the future of sustainability and mitigate climate change; an ecotopian future where technology especially renewable resources and nature exist in ecological harmony(symbiotism). It profers sustainable solutions like that embodies the core concept of African philosophy- being a whole person and being one with your surroundings, particularly focusing on community and its strength, a core concept for the Africa scene. It encourages social action through sustainability education of the next generation that is the African child. It integrates evidence from reviews, personal correspondence and diaries. With the potential to address challenges faced by African children, the article is arranged in sections that: introduce solarpunk and its alignment with African philosophies, analyze the current challenges faced by African children, present the context of climate action through the lens of BAIW (Because Africa Is Worth It), present practical applications of solarpunk principles, discuss the role of forest guards and social action groups in biodiversity preservation, and explore how solarpunk addresses the challenges of the African child, concluding with policy recommendations to support the adoption of solarpunk in Africa.How to cite this article using ASWNet styleOkoroafor C E (2024). Creating a sustainable future for the African child: a solarpunk concept. People centred –The Journal of Development Administration (JDA), 9(2),45-57. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jda.v9i2.2 If interested in becoming a reviewer or editorial board member for this journal, submit an expression of interest here.