In a time when climate change discussions can often feel overwhelming or overly technical, a youth-led initiative called Teach Your Parents (TYP) is proving that education and action can begin with creativity. Founded in 2023 by siblings Nandini Sundram and Abhimanyu Sundram, alongside their father, visual artist Sanjay Sundram, the project uses comics, storytelling, and art to help young people better understand climate change—and start conversations with the adults around them.
What began as a small school project has quickly evolved into an international youth movement that blends creativity, education, and environmental awareness.
A Youth-Led Beginning
The idea behind Teach Your Parents was simple but powerful: climate change education should be accessible, engaging, and led by young voices.
The initiative started when Nandini, then 12, and Abhi, 16, began creating climate-themed comics designed specifically for young audiences. Their goal was to break down complicated environmental concepts into visuals and stories that children could easily understand and relate to.
Nandini took the lead on illustrating the comics, creating clean and engaging drawings that made the material visually appealing. Abhi focused on research and content development, ensuring the information presented was accurate while still easy for young readers to follow. Their father, Sanjay Sundram, supported the project by mentoring the siblings and helping bring the creative vision to life.
Together, they created a project that empowers young people not just to learn about climate change, but to teach others—including their parents.
The First Comic: Understanding Ocean Warming
The first Teach Your Parents comic series explored ocean warming, a critical yet often overlooked aspect of climate change.
Designed in a large format suitable for public display, the comic used simple black-and-white illustrations paired with light, accessible storytelling. This approach helped make a complex scientific issue understandable for younger audiences.
To complement the comic, the team also created an in-house animated version. The animation made it easier to present the story in classrooms and group settings, allowing teachers and students to engage with the material together.
From One School to Many
Teach Your Parents began modestly with students in Grades 5 and 6 at W.E. Johnston Public School in Kanata, a suburb of Ottawa. Early workshops encouraged students to learn about climate change and express their thoughts through art.
The response was immediate and enthusiastic.
Soon, the program expanded to include art workshops and activities for students in Grades 4 through 8 across multiple schools. Participation grew beyond Canada as well, reaching students in regions such as Tamil Nadu, Haryana, and Rajasthan in India.
What started as a classroom experiment had become a cross-cultural conversation about climate awareness led by young artists.
A Major Student Art Exhibition
In 2023, Teach Your Parents received more than 700 painting submissions from students inspired by the initiative’s climate themes.
From these submissions, 100 artworks were selected for a formal exhibition at the Shenkman Arts Centre, displayed in the Trinity Gallery for two months.
The exhibition attracted a diverse audience, including families who were visiting an art gallery for the very first time. For many young artists, it was their first opportunity to see their work presented in a professional gallery setting—an experience that highlighted the power of youth voices in environmental storytelling.
A Community Effort
The growth of Teach Your Parents has been supported by a network of volunteers, educators, and artists in the Ottawa community.
Among them are editor Pam Feeny, voice actor Tim Bolger, and artist Leslie Firth, who led creative workshops for participating schools. Teachers and school leaders including educators like Ms. Allison Bloom have also played an important role by championing the initiative within classrooms.
The project has also gained academic attention. Abhimanyu Sundram published a research paper about the initiative in the Canadian Journal of Children’s Rights. At the journal’s launch event at Carleton University, both siblings presented their work to students and faculty.
Mentorship from experts such as Monica Ruiz-Casares of McGill University and Virginia Caputo helped shape the project’s youth engagement strategies and connect the initiative with supportive organizations.
Recognition on National and Global Platforms
Student artwork created through Teach Your Parents has gained visibility across several platforms.
Climate movement Fridays for Future—founded by Greta Thunberg—displayed the student artworks during a climate strike at Parliament Hill.
The artwork has also appeared in schoolbooks published by SESI Publications, Brazil’s largest non-governmental publisher. Exhibitions featuring the students’ work have taken place at the Trinity Art Gallery, Carleton University, the Arnprior and District Museum, and other community venues.
Media coverage from outlets such as CBC News, CBC Kids, Rogers TV, and Globe Climate has helped the project reach even more families.
Expanding Opportunities and Partnerships
In 2025, Nandini Sundram was selected for the UNICEF Youth Advocacy Program. Through the program, she received training in advocacy and explored how young people can drive meaningful social change.
These experiences have helped inspire new themes for Teach Your Parents comics and expanded collaborations with youth organizations and leaders.
The initiative has also received grants from the City of Ottawa and the Ontario Arts Council, recognizing the program’s growing impact on community engagement and youth education.
A Growing Partnership with the Arnprior and District Museum
One of the initiative’s most significant partnerships is with the Arnprior and District Museum. Under the leadership of museum director Emily Stovel, the museum has hosted exhibitions and youth programming connected to the project.
The 2025–2026 edition of Teach Your Parents has already received nearly 900 student painting submissions, demonstrating the continued enthusiasm for the program.
Selected artworks are currently on display at the museum, where they will remain exhibited until April 11, 2026.
Looking Ahead
As Teach Your Parents continues to grow, its founders are inviting educators, researchers, students, and community organizations to participate in future collaborations.
Through classroom workshops, research partnerships, and creative projects, the initiative aims to expand youth-led climate education and encourage the next generation to share what they learn with the people around them.
At its heart, Teach Your Parents carries a powerful message: when young people are given the tools to understand complex global issues, they can become educators, advocates, and leaders within their own communities.
