“Interview with Dr. Sunamita” - A Conversation on Youth Leadership and Sustainability.

Written by Akhona Vilakazi – Communications Officer

In an inspiring first interview hosted by Shakeelah Williams, Co-Chair of We Are Tomorrow Global Partnership (WAT GP), Dr. Sunamita, a scholar in Geography of Innovation and co-founder of Qxote, a sustainability and knowledge-sharing organisation based in southern Portugal, shares her passionate views on youth leadership, sustainability, and what it means to create meaningful, long-term impact.

The conversation opens with a reflection on youth leadership in climate-focused organisations. Dr. Sunamita underscores the transformative potential of young people, stating that they are not yet “contaminated” by cynicism and bring energy, curiosity, and boldness to reimagining solutions. She believes that giving youth a seat at the table is not just a symbolic gesture, it is a necessity. “They are inheriting the damage we’ve caused,” she notes, “so they must be empowered to shape the strategies for the future they will live in.”

When asked about global youth collaboration, Dr. Sunamita highlights the importance of diverse perspectives. She emphasises that global problems require localised, context-sensitive solutions. Collaborative platforms like WAT-GP offer a unique space for knowledge exchange, allowing youth from different regions to share innovations and adapt them to their communities. This mutual learning, she explains, fosters “global citizenship” and reinforces a sense of interconnected responsibility.

One of the more compelling parts of the discussion is Dr. Sunamita’s take on measuring success in sustainability work. Moving away from traditional, capitalist metrics like profit or material accumulation, she measures success through relational and educational impact. For her, success is when students and volunteers return, when they bring others along, and when knowledge is passed on in a self-sustaining, community-oriented cycle. “Our greatest capital is social capital,” she affirms, echoing a Brazilian proverb: “A friend in the market is more valuable than money in the pocket.”

Dr. Sunamita’s reflections are also deeply personal and grounded in values of simplicity, abundance in community, and mindfulness in consumption. She lives a “maximalist” life rich in relationships, ideas, and biodiversity, yet minimal in materialism. This lifestyle, she shares, allows her to focus on what truly matters: people, knowledge, and ecological wellbeing.

On her key takeaways from engaging with youth, Dr. Sunamita offers perhaps the most heartfelt insight. She views the younger generation not just as learners but as teachers who guide her in how to stay relevant, hopeful, and rooted in purpose. Their drive to change behaviour, shift mindsets, and demand better policies gives her hope for systemic transformation. As she puts it, “Policies are shaped by the needs of the people and these youth are already laying the foundation for that change.”

The interview closes with a shared appreciation for alternative models of education and knowledge-sharing. Dr. Sunamita celebrates the fact that youth are learning how they want to be taught, creating a more individualised and holistic engagement with knowledge. In her words, “Every person is a universe”, a reminder of the infinite potential each individual holds when nurtured with trust, community, and opportunity.

This powerful conversation offers a compelling blueprint for youth-led climate action rooted in equity, collaboration, and the redefinition of success.