Anita Soina, one of TikTok’s 2025 Global Changemakers, has become a recognisable young voice in climate storytelling, using her digital platform to carry African perspectives into global decision-making spaces.
While attending COP30 in Belém, Brazil, she is part of the small group of young Africans bringing community experiences and youth leadership directly to world leaders, activists, and policymakers.
Her journey into digital advocacy began with a simple observation.
“I started using TikTok because I realised it was a platform where I could break down climate change into simple, relatable everyday realities. In my community, we often saw climate change as something far away or too complex,” Soina stated.
But through creating short videos, I could connect issues like droughts, floods, and heat waves to real experiences at home. TikTok works because it makes information accessible, visual, and relatable. Its algorithm allows meaningful content to reach people beyond your usual followers, helping further push climate conversations into mainstream spaces.”
For Anita, the link between online visibility and grassroots work is direct and intentional.
“Through TikTok, I amplify community stories and highlight gaps that need urgent attention, like access to water, education, and building resilience in rural and indigenous communities. This visibility attracts supporters, partners, and volunteers. It also helps shift how people understand climate issues, making them more willing to act. At Restoration Warriors Africa and The Soina Foundation, we use storytelling to mobilise people and resources, turning awareness into action.”
Her presence at COP30 carries a clear message for global leaders.
“My message is that communities on the frontlines of climate change are not just victims; they are leaders, innovators, and knowledge holders shaping real solutions. Africa’s climate story must be told with dignity, accuracy, and depth. I want the global stage to recognise that young people in rural and Indigenous communities are already doing the work. The world needs to move beyond limiting narratives and invest in local resilience, local leadership, and intergenerational knowledge,” she emphasised.
Recognition as a TikTok Changemaker has widened her reach and strengthened her advocacy.
“Firstly, let me confess how excited I was to be selected as one of the 50 2025 TikTok Changemakers. Valarie Keter and I made it to the list representing Kenya and East Africa to the world. TikTok, in particular, has made climate conversations more accessible and relatable. I can break down complex issues, like carbon markets or loss and damage, in a 60-second video and reach millions of people who might not otherwise engage with these topics.”
As she spoke about how the platform reinforces climate advocacy, Anita pointed to TikTok’s own framing of its role.
She referenced the company’s message that “At TikTok, we see sustainability as a shared journey between creativity, community, and conscious living. Our goal is to inspire positive change by showing how everyday choices can support both personal well-being and the planet.”
She also cited TikTok’s view that “TikTok sparks global conversations on important social and environmental issues, fostering empathy, understanding and progress toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and food-secure future.”
In describing TikTok’s approach to reaching audiences, she shared the platform’s statement that “We’re meeting people where they are. On TikTok, discovery blends with entertainment. This approach allows us to authentically inspire action, amplify local voices in Brazil, and show that climate awareness can spread as quickly and powerfully as any viral trend.”
Anita further highlighted TikTok’s efforts to link credible information with creativity, noting its commitment.
“As the home of a vibrant community fueled by creativity and discovery, TikTok is committed to bridging the gap between research, storytelling and action. We are dedicated to supporting and uplifting our global community by partnering with trusted experts and institutions to provide reliable, authoritative information on the climate, food and nutrition, ensuring safety and accuracy,” Anita stated.
Her work, both online and offline, is rooted in transparency and representation.
“For me, content is part of the work. I don’t create for entertainment alone, I document what is happening on the ground, the challenges our communities face, and the actions we take. This helps bring transparency, accountability, and support. It also allows me to inspire others, especially young people, to see that they can contribute from wherever they are. TikTok has shown me that storytelling is a tool of advocacy, and that visibility can drive real change.”
Through her presence at COP30, community engagements, and digital storytelling, Anita Soina continues to demonstrate how young Africans are shaping climate action, connecting local realities to global conversations, and utilising creativity as a bridge between communities and the climate policies that affect them.
