Canberra's school strikers say they've battled burnout through the coronavirus pandemic, but have never grown disillusioned with their cause.
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"Not seeing each other, not having those weekly meetings in person really halted our movement as a group, and that was really frustrating," School Strike 4 Climate organiser Jimmy Hollo said.
Most Australians are familiar with Australia's School Strike 4 Climate movement, launched in 2018 off the back of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg's global call to action.
But behind the colourful placards are local units of schoolkids across the nation, trying to organise demonstrations, and promote membership as another crisis dominates the headlines and their personal lives.
A small team of 10 is responsible for Canberra's branch of School Strike 4 Climate, of which 15-year-old Jimmy and 17-year-olds Rosie Brady and Kate Loynd are all part.
"We're at the point where we needed to be planning, like doing all of the documents, doing all of the emailing everybody and asking for that sort of thing," Jimmy said.
"And when you're under so much pressure from something like a pandemic, it's really hard to get that sort of thing done."
But the group is rebuilding momentum, having adapted quickly at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. It is holding an online action on October 15.
"The lockdown last year ... had quite a big impact, because it was so new for everyone, we didn't know what we were doing," Rosie Brady said.
"Everyone in this group is so dedicated and just nice, so we have been able to keep up these online weekly meetings, even during this lockdown."
Digital demonstrations will be key going forward, with strict limits on outdoor gatherings remaining in place through to the end of the year in Canberra.
Gatherings, and now online events, are crucial in driving membership of the group, which needs to balance out vacant positions from graduating year 12 students.
Drawn to the group by the connectivity and support it offered, that structure hasn't fallen away as the pandemic extends, the organisers say.
"It's hard living through two global pandemics as a kid ... finishing year 12, especially going into uni, and just the uncertainty that piles up from lockdowns," Kate Loynd said.
"Sometimes organisers just need a break ... you get to the point where you're so burned out by everything - by school, by climate change, by the pandemic - that you just need to take a minute and try and get yourself back together."
"You have to take a moment and look after yourself," Jimmy added.
"And there's no shame in that is what we say. We say that you shouldn't be ashamed for not looking at the big picture for just a moment and focusing on yourself."
Climate has been on the agenda of late as federal government politicians have begun to voice support for a target of net zero emissions by 2050 ahead of November's UN Climate Conference.
Being so close to the national seat of government has been "a really awesome experience" for the local group, Kate said.
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"You can protest at Parliament House, you can see local politicians and you're in a place that's surrounded by the government," she said.
"As the Canberra School Strike for Climate Group, we're always really aware of that fact."
Kate said she hoped next year's federal election would help to ramp up interest, with young people "becoming really interested in what the government will look like."
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