Skip to content
CAFOD

Meet the climate babies 12 years on

28 December 2021
Africa - Kenya - Olomaina and his mother - climate babies 2021

“We lost most of our animals because of the drought” says Noomirosho, Olomaina's mother. Photo credit: Alex Kameru

Maria, Denislania and Olomaina live in Bangladesh, Brazil and Kenya - three of the countries most affected by the climate crisis in the world.

We first met them as babies in 2009, when their stories were captured by the Observer newspaper. We asked what impact the climate crisis might have on their future and revisited the children six years later in 2015.

Before this year's COP26 climate talks in Glasgow, we caught up with them again as they become teenagers to see how the climate crisis is still affecting their lives and their families.

Find out how we took action on the climate crisis in 2021

Maria - Bangladesh

Asia - Bangladesh - Maria climate babies - 2009, 2015 and 2021

Maria from Bangladesh - in 2009, 2015 and 2021

“I want to become a teacher and spread the light of education to everyone"

Maria

When we first met the Mallik family from Barguna District in Bangladesh they had been badly affected by the catastrophic cyclones Sidr in 2007 and Aila in 2009, and were in tremendous financial hardships.

13-year-old Maria is still in school, largely thanks to personal sacrifices made by her family. Maria’s 24-year-old sister, Rahima, spent 12 years from the age of 11 working in a garment factory in Dhaka, and her 14-year-old brother, Saidul, is earning less than £1.40 a day working on cargo ships transporting unpackaged goods such as grain, sand, coal, and cement.

Climate change is making the water level in the Bay of Bengal and the Payra river just two miles from their home rise every year.

“The impact of the changing climate is weakening me mentally and financially,” says Maria’s father Tayab, who is a rickshaw driver. “There are frequent tidal floods, cyclones and heavy rains that damage our house.”

“The surrounding crops and plants are getting damaged. The saline water from the sea causes extensive damage to the crops and contaminates the water in the nearby well. Fish are also affected,” adds Tayab.

Being so close to the Payra river and on low-lying land means their home is frequently flooded. “Our house was very torn and broken, and rainwater used to fall through the roof,” adds Maria.

Maria has also noticed the changing climate: “From April to September there is a lot of rain. People really suffer at this time.”

In addition to the financial hardships it has brought the family, the climate crisis has impacted their physical wellbeing.

“The sudden rise in temperature causes me to have heat stroke and my breathing has become increasingly difficult,” says Tayab. “My son and daughters suffer from frequent fever, diarrhoea and stomach aches, which is disrupting their everyday life. Extreme temperatures are decreasing our stamina and make it harder to work.”

Despite the problems the family face, Maria is a happy and positive child. “I want to become a teacher and spread the light of education to everyone,” she says.

Olomaina - Kenya

Africa - Kenya - climate babies 2009 2015 2021

Olomaina from Kenya - in 2009, 2015 and 2021

"Climate change is making life difficult for us, especially the lack of water"

A message to world leaders from Noomirisho, Olomaina's mother