I wish the world could know this and I stretch the hand of hope to my fellow children. If we can finance sports and other luxuries, we can finance livelihood for the people and especially the children and women who are the most vulnerable. "I feel so obligated take care of the nature and environment, Knowing that there is no tourism without nature and no nature without trees. Planting trees, protecting and preserving them is my calling and I always tell the people, both the children and the adults, to come together and work together to reverse the impacts on climate change. It is a call that we must do now, do it in smart ways at speed and scale. We are in an emergency state."
With a renown that got her audiences with heads of state such as Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Hakainde Hichilema, the President of Zambia, as well as President of the African Development Bank Dr Akinwumi Adesina, former US Vice President Al Gore and Pakistan's Minister of State Romina Khurshidalam. Now back at the family home in Dar neighbourhood Mikocheni, Sharon shares her surprise and joy with me that her heroes at the event seemed just as appreciative of what she had achieved. She says, "When I met President Hassan, she told me, 'Thank you Ms Ambassador for supporting me. Great work.'" The fact that Sharon's reputation preceded her even in such high-powered surroundings is testament to all she has done to protect the vulnerable planet she was born into just over a decade ago. Since she can remember, Sharon has loved the beauty of her homeland. Which she describes to me as "a modern Eden." Her parents took Sharon and her two younger brothers to places such as Serengeti, Zanzibar, Mount Kilimanjaro, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and Saadani National Park, trips that left Sharon with an appreciation of the country's wealth of natural treasures as well as their fragility.
CAMPAIGNING FOR CHANGE
While she enjoyed her time in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh, where Cop 27 was held. With adventures including seeing the pyramids and camel riding, when it came to the summit, Sharon made sure she got her message across. "I was happy to travel to Egypt, however, my biggest concern is whether countries, especially EAC countries, will follow up with the climate goals that were set. My foundation is organizing a campaign to follow up with leaders concerning the implementation of those goals." Sharon believes she was heard. 26
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