The village of Gashua in Northern Nigeria was once fertile, green, and full of life. But years of climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable farming turned it into a dustbowl. The desert crept in slowly, first drying up wells, then killing crops, and eventually forcing families to migrate in search of greener pastures.
The turning point came when a group of young people, aged 16 to 25, formed a grassroots environmental group called EcoRoots Gashua. Led by a fiery teenager named Mustapha Lawan, they refused to watch their home vanish.
“We don’t have money. But we have hands, and we have hope,” Mustapha declared.
Every Saturday, they gathered to plant trees—mango, baobab, acacia—digging holes with old hoes and fetching water from distant streams. Locals mocked them at first. But they kept going. Their goal: to build a living “green wall” to hold the desert back.
When IDCC filmed their journey, the story resonated deeply across Africa and beyond. Environmental NGOs, youth-led movements, and international donors stepped in. The impact was breathtaking:
- Over 15,000 trees have been planted along the northern wind corridor.
- Gashua’s water table began to rise slowly, helping restore some vegetation.
- The community created eco-literacy programs for children.
- Youths from 12 neighboring villages replicated the project.
Today, Gashua stands as a beacon of ecological resilience, a village that turned from a climate victim to a climate warrior.
Tagline: Where the desert advanced, so did their determination. Now, hope grows where dust once ruled.
