The Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM), in collaboration with WildRain, is delighted to welcome Emily Millerchip, a PhD researcher from the University of Sussex, to Ghana for an eight-week research internship focused on strengthening the link between science, community knowledge, and sustainable environmental action
Emily’s visit forms part of WildRain’s ongoing commitment to applied research that supports climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable livelihoods in rural communities. During her stay, Emily will be based in Akwamu-Kwanyarko, where GYEM’s ACRE Project is located, working closely with farmers, young people, and local partners engaged in Climate and Nature-Smart Agriculture (CNSA) and ecosystem restoration.
Why This Collaboration Matters
Across Ghana and many parts of Africa, communities are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, declining soil fertility, biodiversity loss, and unpredictable weather patterns. Addressing these challenges requires more than data alone; it demands collaboration between researchers, local communities, and youth-led movements.
Emily’s research explores the role of insects in sustainable farming systems, highlighting how biodiversity can support food security, healthier ecosystems, and resilient agricultural practices. By grounding her work in real community contexts, this collaboration ensures that scientific knowledge is not only generated, but shared, tested, and translated into practical solutions.
For GYEM, this partnership aligns strongly with our mission to amplify youth voices, promote environmental justice, and support community-led climate solutions.
Learning With Communities, Not Just About Them
A core pillar of this internship is mutual learning. Emily will engage directly with farmers and youth in Akwamu-Kwanyarko, listening to lived experiences, indigenous knowledge, and local innovations that often go undocumented in academic spaces.
Through field visits, conversations, and participatory learning, this collaboration recognizes communities not as beneficiaries, but as co-creators of knowledge. This approach reflects GYEM’s belief that sustainable change happens when local wisdom and scientific research work hand in hand.
Building Youth-Centered Climate Action
Youth play a critical role in shaping the future of environmental governance and climate solutions. This partnership creates opportunities for young people to engage with research, ask critical questions, and understand how science can inform advocacy, policy, and action on the ground.
By connecting academic research with youth-led environmental movements, we strengthen the evidence base for advocacy while ensuring that research remains relevant, inclusive, and action-oriented.
GYEM and WildRain are excited about the learning, collaboration, and shared impact this internship will bring. As Emily begins her work in Ghana, we look forward to documenting insights, stories, and lessons that can inspire wider action, locally and beyond.
We extend a warm welcome to Emily and wish her a meaningful, enriching, and impactful stay in Ghana. Together, we continue to bridge science, community knowledge, and youth leadership for a more just and sustainable future.
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