How to start over in the world of changemaking, with Melati Wijsen

"We had no idea what the word activism was. It was just doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons." Melati Wijsen was 12-years-old when she helped say “bye bye” to plastic bags in Bali. A decade on, she's channelling that same energy somewhere new: classrooms.

In Season 3, Episode 2 of ‘Climate Humans: The Policy Edition’, Melati tells host Mauricio Porras why this isn’t a pivot; it’s a deepening. They dig into the overlooked realities of youth mobilization, the resilience it demands, and Melati’s vision for the future of the planet and education’s role in that.

Climate Humans is brought to you by HERO, the platform for people-powered climate solutions. Produced by Josie Colter and edited by Ben Beheshty at Studio Goldstar. Hosted by Mauricio Porras.

Learn more about Youthtopia. 

Show notes:

00:12 welcome to Climate Humans

02:03 quickfire get to know Melati

04:59 from plastic bags to systems change

07:14 fixing education for changemaking

09:50 writing 100 lessons book

12:08 turning book into university program

17:41 Youthtopia vision and platform

20:11 climate education policy in Indonesia

22:01 behind the scenes advocacy work

25:41 defining success and teachers role

28:25 ending chapters and passing the megaphone

34:15 burnout and finding your lane

37:29 staying grounded with big platforms

40:58 heroes and future classrooms

43:38 closing thanks and outro