Simrika Amatya is a Youth Advisor to the Compass Project, an initiative led by the Climate Cares Centre exploring how education can best empower young people to live, work, and thrive in a changing climate. Throughout 2025, the Compass Project conducted group discussions, co-design workshops, and a survey with students and educators – facilitated by and designed together with the project’s Youth and Educator Advisors. In this blog, Simrika reflects on her experience with the Compass Project.
Being part of the Compass Project has been such a meaningful experience. It gave me the opportunity to get involved in projects that explore something we rarely discuss — the emotional burden of climate change. Although my roles have been small, the work has felt deeply impactful. I have met so many passionate and thoughtful people in this space, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. The project’s flexibility has also made it easy to balance alongside my studies.
The first activity I worked on was certainly the most intimidating. It involved co-facilitating group discussions with young people. I was fortunate to receive excellent training from our lead, Jessica Newberry Le Vay, and Force of Nature on how to create a safe and collaborative space. I left with a newfound confidence in accommodating difficult conversations. What made this experience truly rewarding was hearing how passionate the participants were about creating change, while also learning new ways to cope with my own climate anxiety. I have been reminded time and again how grounding it is to spend time in nature and to talk things through with others. It is incredible to know that these insights can help shape learning spaces that truly prioritise connection: where wellbeing comes first and conversations about climate change, mental health, and society not only validate emotions but also inspire action and give young people the tools they need for the future. Reading the research insights and seeing my name in the acknowledgements was a very proud moment.
Another exciting activity I worked on involved refining a script for a short film with the Climate Majority Project about the emotional burden teachers face when navigating lessons on climate change. I had the opportunity to explore tone and dialogue in script writing, making it feel honest and authentic. It was an eye-opening experience to step into the perspective of a classroom teacher and reflect on a setting so familiar to me. It was also a fantastic opportunity to learn how a creative approach can be adapted to tackle a serious issue.
Beyond contributing to various projects and activities, I also attended Compass Project team meetings to stay updated on new plans and recent findings. It is always inspiring to see the ongoing timeline of work and collaboration across so many sectors: from education to policy. Knowing that this work is continuously moving forward gives me a real sense of hope and motivation.
Through the Compass Project, I have come to realise just how closely climate change, mental health, and wellbeing are connected. Being part of the project has made that link feel more personal and more powerful than ever.
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Simrika Amatya is a Compass Project Youth Advisor and Imperial BSc Biochemistry student. Simrika also participated in the IGHI Global Health Summer School 2025, where she worked on a climate change education campaign project.
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Interested in the Compass Project? Our next project report will be published in February 2026. This report presents a roadmap, grounded in the views of 250+ students and educators, for how education can empower every student and educator with the knowledge, skills, agency and resilience needed to live, work and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Follow our website and social media for updates.