When people think of youth in climate action, the image that often comes to mind is of tree-planting campaigns or passionate speeches on global stages. Rarely do they think of someone like Afryandani Mentari Sidabutar, sitting at her desk, coordinating with ministries, updating documents, and helping ensure meetings run as planned. Her interest in joining as a UN Volunteer grew from her passion for the development sector, especially environmental issues. She has long been involved in volunteering with environment-focused communities, which made this role a natural fit.
Afryandani, known as Afry, is a Project Clerk with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Climate Promise project in Indonesia.
Even though I’m not on the front lines planting trees or delivering speeches, I know that every contribution I make, allows those impactful actions to be fulfilled efficiently.”
She carefully tracks all communication with government offices, non-profits, and UN teams. Her behind-the-scenes work helps move important conversations forward—from carbon trading to limiting emissions in forests. One moment that stood out was a workshop in Bali on protecting forest ecosystems. It brought together people from all walks of life. Being part of that exchange showed her that working together isn’t just talk and collective action isn't just a buzzword. It’s how real change happens.
Young people are our greatest asset in achieving our goals, as they are the seeds of the future that will lead us forward. The local community is also at the forefront of forest protection. If we nurture an appreciation of the environment in them, I believe restoring ecosystems and building resilience will become a reality.”
Similarly, what left a deep impact was the Movers for Forest and Other Land Uses (FoLU): Climate Leaders Initiative, a workshop series that gave over 250 university students the tools and knowledge to advocate for climate action. Many of these participants were volunteers driven by their passion for the environment, just like Afry.
Contributing to climate action at times felt like an uphill battle, says Afry. Coordinating across multiple teams often brought delays and communication gaps. But rather than discouraging her, these challenges became lessons. She learned that climate work isn’t only about policy—it’s about staying agile, pushing through, and uniting people around a shared mission.
So, it's not just speeches or saplings, and beyond the spotlight, climate action also happens in the quieter, often overlooked roles that make progress possible.
Volunteering has taught me that environmental impact isn’t just about what we see. It’s also in the systems we build, the voices we include, and the partnerships we nurture.”