Climate Action
Diary of an Email Strategist in South Africa
November 13, 2024
Beatriz Woods, Communications and Internship program manager
Diary of an Email Strategist in South Africa
Day 1: Sunday, November 3, 2024, 2024
Location: Washington DC
WEATHER: Fall Coolness
MOOD: Contemplative
In November 2019, I joined EARTHDAY.ORG (EDO) as the Email Strategist, little knowing that five years later I’d be traveling 8,000 miles away from my home representing EDO at an invite-only event in Cape Town, South Africa. An event we’re only invited to because of an idea I had.
Like many other NGOs, EDO nominates people, places, and institutions for international prizes. One of the most famous and prestigious is The Earthshot Prize, given away by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales of the British Royal Family, to 5 winners protecting the planet against climate change, waste, and other scourges. The 5 categories are Protect and Restore Nature, Clean Our Air, Revive Our Oceans, Build a Waste-Free World, and Fix Our Climate.
Two years ago, I chose to nominate the City of Amsterdam’s Circular Economy which commits to building a system where waste is eradicated and citizens are prosperous by 2050. It saw the city advance to the finals of the Build a Waste-Free World category, yielding the organization invites to the annual Prize ceremonies.
I attended the Earthshot ceremony in Boston in 2022 and, much to my excitement, was tapped to go to South Africa this year.
I hadn’t been out of the country since my undergraduate semester abroad to to Oxford, England back in the 20th century — but the prospect of the connections I could make at the Earthshot event overcame my proclivity to stay sedentary. After much research on updated international travel customs — and loading up my devices with enough content to keep me sufficiently entertained during two 20-hour flights — I was ready. I left for the Dulles airport at 5:30am, thrilled but a little daunted!
EarthShot Prize
Day 2: Monday, November 4, 2024, 2024
Location: Woolworths, Cape Town, South Africa
WEATHER: Balmy
MOOD: Bereft but feeling supported
After an hour stop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, I landed in Cape Town at 1:45pm — but things did not go quite as planned. Apparently, it’s common for luggage to simply not be loaded onto international flights. When my luggage didn’t appear on the carousel and my Airtag still pinged Dulles airport, I asked the Cape Town desk what had happened and the response was that my luggage wasn’t loaded onto the plane back in the U.S. Not much one can do with that information except fill out the necessary lost luggage forms and seek out the shuttle booked to take me to the hotel from the airport. Then I needed to text my boss, Kathleen Rogers, the President of EARTHDAY.ORG.
Kathleen was so supportive when I said I couldn’t make the first event because I was in leggings and a crumpled t-shirt from the flight, her response was instant: “Go anyway, nobody cares what you are wearing, ” she texted. The shuttle driver was amazingly helpful and patient and we detoured to Woolworth’s to buy an affordable but presentable outfit, as well as recommending a coffee shop I could check out later to recharge!
I got to the event in my snazzy new work clothes and made a couple of connections straightaway, including with the new Director of Communications for the Earthshot Prize, Jo Swift. We had canapes and the food was most welcome after my long day. The night-time cityscape view was spectacular.
Day 3: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Location: The Earthshot Prize Hub, Cape Town, South Africa & my new favorite coffee shop!
WEATHER: Balmy
MOOD: Inspired
Although I got a stunning view shot the night before, I couldn’t help snapping this pic on Tuesday morning before the day’s events began. Cape Town is truly beautiful.
The rest of the day was all about attending talks and learning. The day of executive panels was almost overwhelming for my digital marketing senses, but I took a ton of notes and opened my eyes to the innovations of the Earthshot finalists. It was deeply inspiring, and for me two stood out: MYCL’s fashion contributions and d.light’s clean energy innovations, as they are both near and dear to EDO’s own programming.
Fast fashion and its reliance on cheap plastic materials like nylon and polyesters is a scourge that wastes energy and fills landfills with cheap, dumped fashion worn once and discarded. The other issue in fashion is the use of high end materials, which is why one of this year’s EARTHSHOT winners MYCIL, came up with a sustainable leather alternative.
“We really wanted to go into the agricultural business as Indonesia is an agricultural country,” said one of the co-founders of Mycil Ronaldiaz Hartantyo. “I’m not really good at growing things. My first concern was that I needed to be able to grow it. That’s why we came across mushrooms, because mushrooms are a really adaptive organism.” As reported to Town and Country Magazine
The other winner that stood out to me was d.light. They have been at the forefront of bringing solar energy to off-grid communities in Africa and India, with the mission to reach one billion people by 2030.
The company was born from a personal experience co-founder Sam Goldman witnessed the dangers of kerosene lamps, which local communities often rely on for light. A friend of his son was badly burned by one which led him to partner with Nedjip Tozun to create a safer, renewable energy solution.
Today, d.light delivers solar-powered home systems and appliances to millions across Africa, India, and other regions. Through its innovative pay-as-you-go model, customers in countries like Kenya, Nigeria, and India can access affordable solar energy, empowering them with reliable power for the first time. We need clean energy to take off globally, hence our theme for 2025 is Our Power, Our Planet, so I especially loved this project.
The evening networking event gifted me with a plethora of new business cards and visions of an epic global 55th Earth Day dancing in my head. We turn 55 in 2025!
After the official events were over, I ventured to the coffee shop the shuttle driver told me about the day before and struck up a serendipitous conversation with a woman at the table next to me. She was an aspiring environmental children book’s author, which aligns with our Climate Education initiative, and I saw the opportunity for a connection. I was further delighted to learn of her involvement with a clean energy community project and snagged a call with their visionary leader for next week. Suddenly everything was falling into place!
Day 4: Wednesday, November 6, 2024
Location: The Earthshot Prize Hub, Cape Town, South Africa & my new favorite coffee shop!
WEATHER: Balmy
MOOD: Inspired
I had a pleasant surprise at the hotel when I woke up on Wednesday morning: My luggage had arrived from the airport! I was excited to wear the dress I’d bought just for the heck of it, unsure what event I’d even wear it to until this opportunity, so graciously given to me by EDO. I was set.
First, the day. My new friends at the coffee shop snuck me into a 30 minute appointment at a booked hair salon up the block so I could get fancied up. I wore a dress and a sparkly wrap I’d bought for the heck of it and wasn’t sure what event I’d even wear it to until this perfect opportunity, so graciously given to me by EDO came up. I was set.
Sorry for the lackluster picture. I forgot to get a pic taken other than the one in the hotel!
The doors opened at 5 and when I got to the registration table they told me to go to the VIP section! Which was a bit thrilling I must confess! It was a *bit* of a trek but I finally got to the ‘tent’ and felt my sparkly wrap helped me fit in with all the glamor around me. The venue was as crowded as a rock concert, red and blue strobe lights flashing with standing room only. I didn’t have a direct view for photos of the speakers, but I was touched by what I heard from our winners and thrilled to see what I could of the performances.
Prince William spoke about the innovations we must pursue in order to fight the climate crisis and other threats to the environment. “I believe our world can be rich in possibility, in hope and in optimism,” he told the awards ceremony. “That is why the Earthshot prize exists – to champion the game changers, the inventors, the makers, the creatives, the leaders.”
Day 5: Thursday, November 7, 2024
Location: Closing Jol at MOYO Restaurant in the Botanical Gardens
WEATHER: Balmy
MOOD: Festive
I got to go to a fancy restaurant at the K Botanical Gardens just outside the city for the final night’s festivities, or the Closing Jol.
I enjoyed a generously sized virgin strawberry daiquiri and a No-jito as well as some bruschetta before the evening’s performances. The room was full of a really inspiring collection of people and I must have met over 40 people.
Perhaps most exciting for me was meeting members of the Amsterdam cohort who promised to give the city’s team my phone number so we could connect. I honestly got teary at the prospect, much to my embarrassment. But I am looking forward to staying in touch with them as it’s my ambition to visit Amsterdam one day soon myself.
On my day off, I took it easy on my final day in Cape Town sans Earthshot events. I went on a food tour (because I’m an American who loves food) and spent some final hours in my now favorite coffee shop. I hope I represented my country and EARTHDAY.ORG well because Cape Town certainly made a massive;y positive impression on me..
Day 8: Sunday, November 10, 2024
Location: Washington, DC
MOOD: At Home
It was time to come home and I headed back to the airport. On my way it got me thinking, tomorrow, November 11th, is my five year anniversary at EDO.
I admit: I applied to EARTHDAY.ORG originally out of sheer necessity for a job but that has changed over time of course. When interns ask me in interviews how I got here — I tell the truth, which is not often the answer you get in this field. From what I’ve gleaned, my unique perspective makes me valuable because I didn’t join as an ardent activist. It is a testament to EDO that they wanted me anyway, Kathleen always says we are a BIG tent, and all are welcome. I am living proof of that
Like many women, I suffer from imposter syndrome and needlessly worry daily about when everyone l will see through my facade. But the truth is that since becoming part of the Earth Day family, I’ve increasingly found myself and been able to drive results, be it working with organizations like Earthshot, writing our campaign emails or managing our amazing interns.
At the start of my trip when Sarah, Director of our communications team, asked me to keep a diary, I originally panicked because I felt I wouldn’t be able to write in my own voice. But then I realized, I am not an imposter and perhaps there’s a place for me to make a difference, even if I am not a dyed-in-the-wool environmentalist. We all don’t need to go to rallies waving placards to be a part of this movement!
So please don’t not get involved because you feel different, want to be more strategic and not as noisy. We want you, whoever you are! If you want to hear from me more then why not sign up to join the Earth Day network Social Squad? Katherine — Digital Media Manager in charge of social media — and I will send you emails linking to social media posts you can share with a couple of clicks. Your comments and shares spread the message far and wide to reach more people and keep our work going!.
Thanks for reading and I’ll be seeing you on email. Not on the list? Sign up here and stay in touch, it would be great to get connected!
