Ayakha Melithafa (born ) is a South African

environmental activist The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also including conservation and green politics, is a diverse philosophical, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists advoc ...

Early life and education

Melithafa is from

Eerste River, Western Cape Eerste River (Eersterivier in Afrikaans, meaning "first river") is a town in the Western Cape, South Africa and a suburb of the City of Cape Town. It forms part of the Oostenberg subregion of the city situated behind the Stellenbosch/Vlaeberg Hi ...

, a suburb of

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

. She is currently a student at the Centre of Science and Technology in

Khayelitsha Khayelitsha () is a township in Western Cape, South Africa, on the Cape Flats in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality. The name is Xhosa for ''New Home''. It is reputed to be the largest

Climate activism

Melithafa was one of 16 children, including

Greta Thunberg Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman Thunberg (; born 3 January 2003) is a Swedish environmental activist who is known for challenging world leaders to take immediate action for climate change mitigation. Thunberg's activism began when she persuaded ...

Alexandria Villaseñor Alexandria Villaseñor (born 2005) is an American climate activist living in New York. A follower of the Fridays for Future movement and of fellow climate activist Greta Thunberg, Villaseñor is a co-founder of U.S. Youth Climate Strike and the ...

, Carl Smith, and Catarina Lorenzo to file a complaint to the

United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child The Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is a body of experts that monitor and report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The Committee also monitors the Convention's three optional protoco ...

for failing to adequately address the climate crisis. Melithafa also contributed to th
Project 90 by 2030
YouLead initiative, a South African organisation committed to a 90% reduction in carbon by 2030. She was recruited by Ruby Sampson in March 2019 to join th
African Climate Alliance
Youth Spokesteam, where she was given opportunities to do presentations, attend conferences and other climate action events. She also serves as a recruitment official for the African Climate Alliance. In particular, Melithafa advocates for the inclusion of diverse voices in climate activism:

"It’s very important for poor people and people of colour to go to these protests and marches because they are feeling the wrath of climate change the most. It’s important for them to have a say, for their voice and their demands to be heard." --- Ayakha Melithafa

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melithafa, Ayakha 2000s births Living people South African climate activists South African child activists Youth climate activists