![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, center, laughs with her classmates during a lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. “Climate change affects our way of life,” Chanda said. The country has been suffering from severe food shortages as water has grown scarce, prompting the president to declare a national emergency in February. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/4cc98812618c4461bf1beae342b24730/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, center, laughs with her classmates during a lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. “Climate change affects our way of life,” Chanda said. The country has been suffering from severe food shortages as water has grown scarce, prompting the president to declare a national emergency in February. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Ethel Kasawa inspects a corn crop she planted as part of an agriculture guide program that aims to promote climate-smart techniques in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. The program, in partnership with education ministries in Zambia and Zimbabwe, aims to help young people — particularly marginalized girls — build climate resilience and explore green careers. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ed1a5f0c36544ff89116c28590e77252/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Ethel Kasawa inspects a corn crop she planted as part of an agriculture guide program that aims to promote climate-smart techniques in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. The program, in partnership with education ministries in Zambia and Zimbabwe, aims to help young people — particularly marginalized girls — build climate resilience and explore green careers. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, center, interprets climate change terms to students, who are deaf, during a lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/853d53472c064d288551cbd938028112/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, center, interprets climate change terms to students, who are deaf, during a lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, center, sits in class at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/17933784424e4320b85545ff62cead53/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, center, sits in class at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Girls join a lunch queue at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Many students are deaf or hard of hearing. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/bfd26e85d2474c8ca6772fd3866fa88d/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Girls join a lunch queue at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Many students are deaf or hard of hearing. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, left, chats to her friend Juliet Nankamba at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/a07ff072a96b4384a815aff3922ac5cc/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, left, chats to her friend Juliet Nankamba at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Elizabeth Motale, right, a climate agriculture expert, prepares for a climate change lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School, as Bridget Chanda takes up her position in front of the class so she can be able to serve as a sign language interpreter before a lesson in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/13a9f8ab35e94b03971b0fb6b1a14bcf/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Elizabeth Motale, right, a climate agriculture expert, prepares for a climate change lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School, as Bridget Chanda takes up her position in front of the class so she can be able to serve as a sign language interpreter before a lesson in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, right, pushes her friend Juliet Nankamba, in a wheelchair at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/bb186e3678854792b6c06bb115e48a3f/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, right, pushes her friend Juliet Nankamba, in a wheelchair at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda poses inside her dormitory at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/bd5c6acb25984f359f1175044b6e49b4/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda poses inside her dormitory at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda is served her lunch meal at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/a054109bc6be4a738ca77520f0a3aa2b/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda is served her lunch meal at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Elizabeth Motale, right, a climate agriculture expert, points in class during a climate change lesson, as Bridget Chanda serves as a sign language interpreter at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/140af0cb931640789d2aba1ff3dc9f25/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Elizabeth Motale, right, a climate agriculture expert, points in class during a climate change lesson, as Bridget Chanda serves as a sign language interpreter at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Students, many who are deaf or hard of hearing, from Chileshe Chepela Special School react as Bridget Chanda, center, signs for them during a climate smart technique lesson on drip irrigation outside a garden at the school in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/3d9d3a56dcda4b6692f64030f12dcaca/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Students, many who are deaf or hard of hearing, from Chileshe Chepela Special School react as Bridget Chanda, center, signs for them during a climate smart technique lesson on drip irrigation outside a garden at the school in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia’s deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it’s prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi A student, who is deaf, uses sign language during a climate change lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Sign language isn't recognized as an official language in Zambia, but the government has taken steps to ensure its recognition and has made it mandatory for climate change education to also be taught in sign language. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/58eb56a2ee4b4281a261d9ecd5ea6984/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
A student, who is deaf, uses sign language during a climate change lesson at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Sign language isn't recognized as an official language in Zambia, but the government has taken steps to ensure its recognition and has made it mandatory for climate change education to also be taught in sign language. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, center, signs for students who are deaf during a climate smart techniques lesson on drip irrigation outside a garden at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/71ca3545df7047a0b6a411d319214567/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, center, signs for students who are deaf during a climate smart techniques lesson on drip irrigation outside a garden at Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda, left, interprets climate change terms to students, who are deaf, during a lesson at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/17d492c1221c4cadac78b4c27721f7d2/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda, left, interprets climate change terms to students, who are deaf, during a lesson at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Wednesday, March 6, 2024. Chanda is intent on helping educate Zambia's deaf community about climate change. As the southern African nation has suffered from more frequent extreme weather, including its current severe drought, it's prompted the Zambian government to include more climate change education in its school curriculum. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Bridget Chanda sits on her bed next to her prosthetic legs inside her dormitory at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Her lower legs were amputated after she developed gangrene. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/ddd60ad13a1c43358534b782d882f8ea/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Bridget Chanda sits on her bed next to her prosthetic legs inside her dormitory at the Chileshe Chepela Special School in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. Her lower legs were amputated after she developed gangrene. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
![Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi Girls inspect their cassava and groundnut crop which they planted as part of an agriculture guide program that aims to promote climate-smart techniques in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. The program, in partnership with education ministries in Zambia and Zimbabwe, aims to help young people — particularly marginalized girls — build climate resilience and explore green careers. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)](https://mapi.associatedpress.com/v2/items/b744493b8af54efd8c1e8fdd2e80c926/preview/preview.jpg?s=680x)
Girls inspect their cassava and groundnut crop which they planted as part of an agriculture guide program that aims to promote climate-smart techniques in Kasama, Zambia, Thursday, March 7, 2024. The program, in partnership with education ministries in Zambia and Zimbabwe, aims to help young people — particularly marginalized girls — build climate resilience and explore green careers. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)