By Tara Prakash, Sidwell Friends School
I spoke with Mohab Sherif, a 17-year-old Egyptian climate activist who moved to Canada last year. He began his activism at 15 years old with the Fridays for Future Movement. He started with Fridays for Future Digital on campaigns like “Defend the Defenders,” where he spoke about Alexandria (a mesmerizing city in Egypt) and the climate crisis. Later on, Mohab joined new groups and organizations like Mockcop26. He has attended youth-led summits like the Youthspeaks2021 by Earth Uprising International and has spoken on immigration and climate change.
Question: How did you become interested and passionate about the environment?
Answer: It was something really from a young age. My family and I used to feed the animals in the street. It’s something I really love and enjoy engaging in. In 2019, when I found out about climate change, I began to care more about the environment.
Q: How did you get interested in the Fridays for Future organization?
A: Actually, I found it is really empowering to find kids from all over the world, demanding systemic change together to tackle climate change, and coming together to address the urgency of the climate crisis. It’s really empowering that we have these movements, so I decided to join one.
Q: How did the Fridays for Future Digital campaigns like Defend the Defenders help you grow and learn as an activist?
A: It was very important to my life because in my region, it’s very hard to speak out, so I used this platform to talk about this crisis. We really needed this voice to be heard, especially in my region, so it was very important. I got to meet many cool people, and it was very insightful.
Q: What was your experience of Mockcop26 like? How did it help you grow and learn as an activist?
A: Mock COP26 and the preparation for that was mainly focused on bringing Egyptian ideas and influence into the conversation. I was really involved in the strategy. It was very cool to meet different leaders, including the president of Mock COP26, and it was something very gratifying that we are finally doing something great. It was wonderful and was impactful in many ways in terms of bringing new people to the table.
Q: How did the Youth Speaks 2021 youth-led summit impact you as an activist?
A: I really focused on my impact as an immigrant. We worked to support people, especially those on the frontline. We really showed that it’s not a show, it’s really something that’s going on and has been going on for years. We showed the importance and urgency to address climate action immediately. Some people are impacted by air pollution, and it’s contributed to by the big countries and factories. I found it important to make sure that the voices of those people were present at the summit.
Q: What are any challenges that have come up as an activist?
A: Sometimes I face challenges as an activist, especially if the spaces I’m in are Euro-centric. Sometimes, I find my voice is hard to reach others. Often, as an Arab, I face challenges in different spaces. Sometimes I find it’s really hard to make my voice reach impactfully to others in power and fight for change.
Q: What have you found enjoyable as an activist?
A: I am constantly seeing the world burning. The people and the world are my hope, and people believing in true justice is my hope. It is enjoyable to get to know people from all over the world and get to learn new things.
Q: Who do you hope to inspire through your work?
A: I hope that people will listen to the urgency of the climate crisis and spread the word between people, because it’s very hard sometimes. I want people to know that we are living through a crisis, and there are a lot of people like me fighting for justice, and I hope people are patient and try their best, because this is our only home.
Mohab Sherif reminds us that “Nothing is impossible in this world. If you believe in something, nothing will ever stop you. The end of something is a new beginning, and together, the impossible will always be possible.”
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