Born into a climate crisis - Maita's story

Born into the climate crisis

Just three weeks old, Maita* is a beautiful, chubby-cheeked baby. 

But she’s been born into the climate crisis. Literally. 

When her mum, Juliet*, was about to give birth, she was turned away from the local health clinic because they had no water. A drought in Binga district in Zimbabwe where they live meant water supplies had run dry. So Juliet had to give birth at home, without a midwife or medical equipment. She was terrified her baby wouldn’t survive.   

Thankfully Maita is doing well. But for Juliet these are worrying times. 

She grows her own crops, but lack of rain means she hasn’t been able to produce enough food. 

“The climate is changing,” says Juliet. “We're going hungry because the rain is delayed.” 

She says the drought means they also have a serious problem with drinking water. Their local well is often dry or the water is dirty, making them sick.  

For baby Maita, born into the climate crisis, what lies ahead? To be able to beat the growing threat of climate-related drought and hunger, her loving and hard-working family must get support. For Maita’s future, it’s critical. 

How are we helping?

We’re determined to help children like Maita who are already facing the impact of the climate crisis. We’re giving cash grants to families facing drought so they’re able to buy food. We’re helping communities get clean water by improving water wells or digging new ones. And we’re supporting health workers to identify and treat malnourished children.

* We’ve changed Maita and Juliet’s names to help keep them safe. 

Call for Boris Johnson to act now

As our prime minister prepares to host the global climate summit in Glasgow, call on him to take urgent action and recognise the threat to children today and their futures tomorrow.

Email Boris Johnson – remind him that children are at the heart of the climate crisis. How he leads in Glasgow can have a huge impact on their lives and futures. Let’s give children everywhere reason to believe a better future is possible. 

Learn more about our work supporting children living through the climate crisis