A new initiative is empowering Caribbean youth to tell the region’s climate story through animation.
The Climate Voices Project, led by the Saint-Lucia-based Caribbean Climate Justice Project and Malfinis Film & Animation Studios, trains mainly young animators to create compelling stories about climate change to raise vital awareness across the region and beyond.
The training course, which began on July 8 has attracted nearly 50 animators from Saint Lucia, the OECS, CARICOM, and even as far as Africa.
“This training is about more than just software; it’s about empowering a new generation of creative climate warriors. We are giving them the skills to articulate the urgency of climate justice and the transition to renewable energy in a way that is accessible, engaging, and uniquely Caribbean,” said Dr James Fletcher, founder of the Caribbean Climate Justice Project.
The organisers say the course is a rigorous, structured programme where participants are graded on attendance, practical application and assessments, culminating in an official certificate of achievement. It is designed and delivered by a team of seasoned industry professionals from Malfinis, including writers, disaster management specialists and expert animators who have worked on international projects.
A key outcome for successful graduates is a direct pathway to professional opportunities.
“Every graduate who demonstrates proficiency will be included in a talent database linked to the Caribbean Film and Animation Cluster Initiative (CAFCI),” explained Milton Edison Branford, Malfinis’ managing director. “This connects them directly with our studio partners in Nigeria, South Africa and Jamaica for consideration in paid roles on current and future productions, including the planned animated series of our ‘Climate Tipping Point’ graphic novels.”
