In partnership with XR Justice Movement Uganda, we engaged on Global Siblings Twinning Project, a collaborative initiative that brings together youth and frontline activists from Africa and solidarity movements in the Global North.A five-day Boot Camp was held in Uganda with the aim of strengthening solidarity from the ground up. The Boot Camp created a shared space for African activists and global allies to engage in collective learning, organizing, and reimagining collaboration beyond traditional institutional boundaries. It sought to rebalance existing power dynamics by centering grassroots voices and experiences.The Boot Camp brought together grassroots defenders, youth movements, and supporting organizations from nine African countries, namely: Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Gabon, Rwanda, Congo, South Sudan, Namibia, and Ethiopia. The event provided an inclusive and empowering platform for participants to exchange ideas, share experiences, and develop practical approaches to collaboration.The key objectives of the Boot Camp included creating space for reflection and collective strategy, strengthening activist voices and safety especially for frontline defenders and activists, building more equitable bridges between social movements and NGOs, and developing long-term strategies for solidarity that go beyond short-term funding cycles and conventional project frameworks.The Boot Camp also emphasized how climate change impacts are deeply unequal, with women and girls in marginalized communities facing disproportionate risks. One of the sessions highlighted how gender inequality, patriarchy, colonial legacies, and economic injustice shape vulnerability to climate impacts. Therefore, climate justice cannot be achieved without gender justice. We also discussed the emotional and physical toll of activism, underscoring the importance of stress management, care, and resilience to prevent burnout and sustain long-term engagement.Another critical highlight was Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs). One of the facilitators explained how these lawsuits are used to intimidate and silence activists, journalists, and environmental defenders, posing a serious threat to civic space, democracy, and climate action. He stressed the importance of anti-SLAPP laws to protect advocacy and public participation.The Boot Camp successfully fostered an inclusive, collaborative, and empowering environment. It reinforced the importance of solidarity, care, equality, and long-term collaboration in advancing climate and social justice movements across Africa and beyond
