In Yemen's Abyan Governorate, the Dergag area has long suffered from climate-related conflicts, with agricultural lands affected by desertification and water shortages. Children and youth make up 70 percent of the country’s population, and declining resources have exacerbated community conflicts. 

With support from USAID's Building Peace in Yemen project, the community is now working together to address these challenges and promote peace. The project helped the community to form an inclusive community council made up of youth, women, members of civil society organizations, marginalized groups, and elders, and provided training on conflict sensitivity, gender equality, and the "do no harm" principle. Council members then conducted a conflict analysis, leading them to start two community-driven initiatives: climate awareness and impact workshops and a community-wide tree-planting campaign.

Before this project, we felt helpless against the environmental problems facing our community," said Ahmed, a local farmer. "Now, we are united in taking action to improve our situation."

With support from USAID, the community planted 1,200 climate-appropriate seedlings along a 1,000-meter stretch, creating a green belt around Dergag. Planting sites included local schools, where students eagerly participated. 

Seeing our children so excited to plant trees at their schools gives me hope for the future," said Fatima, a mother of three.

The project collaborated with the Agricultural Research Authority to select drought-resistant, low-water-consuming species like Bougainvillea, Oleander, and Conocarpus lancifolius. These trees will help combat soil erosion and desertification while requiring minimal water resources. By bringing the community together for a common cause, the tree-planting initiative has strengthened social bonds and reduced tensions over scarce resources. 

The tree planting initiative not only shields our village from high temperatures, reduces carbon dioxide, and boosts oxygen levels, it also enhances the village's natural beauty. Even more than that, the initiative strengthened community bonds, fostering greater cooperation and raising environmental awareness, uniting us all in the shared goal of creating a greener, healthier future for our village. This initiative offered young people an invaluable chance to volunteer and make a difference in their community. Through their participation, the youth gained a deep understanding of climate change and its impacts," said Hind, a youth community council member. 

USAID programs help advance youth and community participation by amplifying socio-economic opportunities for youth and fostering community cohesion with activities that promote engagement between people from different groups.  The success in Dergag demonstrates the power of community-led initiatives in addressing both environmental and social challenges. As the trees grow, so does the community's resilience and collaboration, paving the way for a greener, more peaceful future.