TEAP Marks Fourth Anniversary with Intergenerational ZenCafe, Launches Climate Mental Health Research Report

The Eco-Anxiety Africa Project (TEAP) celebrated its fourth anniversary with Roots & Futures, an intergenerational ZenCafe experience held in Lagos that brought together elders and young people to explore climate change, mental wellbeing, and collective resilience.

The gathering also marked the official launch of TEAP’s Intergenerational Bridges Dialogue research reports.

The event created an intimate, culturally grounded space for cross-generational conversation, centering both youth and elder perspectives on climate anxiety, loss, and adaptation.

TEAP unveiled two editions of the Intergenerational Bridges Dialogue report — a concise summary and a detailed version — presenting findings from community conversations across multiple Nigerian communities on the psychosocial impacts of climate change.

Participants engaged in guided discussions and collaborative art-making, using storytelling and reflection to explore what resilient futures look like when elder wisdom and youth leadership are held together. The session was widely described by attendees as grounding and affirming, underscoring the demand for safe, inclusive spaces that foster listening, healing, and intergenerational solidarity.

Speaking at the event, Head of The Eco-anxiety Africa Project, Svetlana Onye, said, “Our mental health shapes how we navigate a challenging world — and ultimately, whether we thrive. This is why mental health cannot be separated from planetary health. As we enter our most impactful years yet, I’m excited for everything year four will bring.”

Speaking also, the Senior Programme Manager, TEAP, Ayomide Olude, said, “TEAP has demonstrated the transformative impact of bringing elders and youth into shared reflection. These conversations have revealed that intergenerational engagement is not only symbolic but essential for inclusive, culturally relevant climate resilience.”

Roots & Futures also served as a moment of reflection on TEAP’s four-year journey centering African perspectives at the intersection of climate and mental health through research, dialogue, and community-based initiatives — work that addresses psychosocial burdens often overlooked in mainstream climate responses.

Building on the newly launched reports, TEAP plans to expand its intergenerational dialogues and community-centered programming across more Nigerian communities in the coming year.

Eco-Anxiety Africa Project (TEAP) TEAP is an African-led initiative at the intersection of climate change and mental health. Through research, community dialogue, and locally grounded initiatives, TEAP shapes conversations and builds tools that help African communities process, respond to, and advocate around the emotional weight of the climate crisis.