Jo-Jikum

Partner Details

About

In the words of our partner, Jo-Jikum means “your home” or “your place” in Marshallese. It is short for Jodrikdrik in Jipan̄ Ene Eo Ekutok Maroro, which loosely translates to “Youth helping the land that is green and lush.” This can also be understood as “Young stewards of our thriving, green homeland.”  

As a youth-led nonprofit organization in the Marshall Islands,Jo-Jikum builds the power of young people to develop sustainable solutions to the environmental challenges facing their islands. Its work focuses on y “equipping young people with the skills and confidence to protect our islands, sustain our culture, and shape a thriving future for the generations to come.” 

Jo-Jikum promotes youth-led environmental research and monitoring by partnering with local authorities and traditional leaders. Through initiatives such as the Laura groundwater monitoring project, Jo-Jikum has supported youth to collect environmental data and help communities better understand threats to their freshwater resources.  

UUSC supports Jo-Jikum’s Indigenous-led environmental research and ecosystem monitoring efforts, helping youth take active roles in community-based research and decision-making. Through the Pacific Rising initiative, Jo-Jikum also works to preserve Marshallese ancestral knowledge and cultural heritage, while raising awareness of climate change and its impacts. As leaders in addressing non-economic loss and damage (NELD), Jo-Jikum brings attention to the cultural, social and environmental losses experienced by the communities as a survivor of both climate and nuclear devastation.  

UUSC is proud to support Jo-Jikum’s work strengthening youth leadership, advancing climate justice, and protecting Marshallese culture and environmental resources for future generations.