“Whatever you do, make sure you hold the hand of someone older and hold the hand of someone younger.”

Xiye Bastida, Youth Leader at Fridays for Future and the co-founder of the Re-Earth Initiative, joined a conversation with Honorary POP Ocean Mentor, Ana Hanhausen and other POP youth leaders focusing on youth leadership, as part of “POP Climate Leadership Conversations: A Tribute to Our Chief Mentor” during POP Festival 2021.

Some excerpts:

- During the last years, the climate movement has primarily been led by the youth. Do you think this is because of a lack of political leadership? How has becoming a leader at such a young age and taking on such important responsibilities shaped your way of thinking?

Bastida expressed her disappointment regarding the lack of political leadership. She observed that the existing system of power works the way it is intended to, and stated that leadership rooted in power is not constructive. On the other hand, she believes that the youth are in this for the right reasons. “We have been thrown into these leadership positions without having to think about financial compensation, or about power dynamics. And that makes us so special,” she said.

- Many people from all generations are looking up to those leading the climate movement. What would be your message to both the younger and older generations?

"It is crucial to remember that we are here as activists, and that ‘influencer-ism’ is not activism. The first part of starting a movement – the first part of starting anything – is being true to who you are, and what your values are, and what your goals are; and not letting anything come in your path, or clouding your judgement, or diverting your values,” she said.

Read about the full conversation: https://thepopmovement.org/event/youth-leadership-a-leadership-conversation-with-xiye-bastida/

Watch the conversation: https://thepopmovement.org/pop_videos/youth-leadership-conversation-with-xiye-bastida-2/

Photo credit: WSDF 2020