COMMUNITY ACTORS COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND POVERTY
STAKEHOLDERS’ MEETING AT HANETI PARISH
A day meeting took place in each village involving the local authorities, youth leaders, and participants’ representatives in the project planning and responsibility sharing. The meeting took place on Saturday 12th August 2023 for Mwiyendaje village Dodoma, and on 16th August 2023 for Mpuguso Mbeya Tanzania.
Community youth training workshop on environmental protection
The training focused on building the capacity of the community youth in environmental management, conservation, climate change mitigation, and adaptation. The workshop also aimed to show participants the income generation opportunities that can go together with environmental preservation such as tree/fruit nurseries, and wood plantations. The session gave them space for experience sharing, exchange of good practices, and opportunities to learn conservation strategies. Young people were able to learn about climate change, its causes and manifestations, and the roles of transformational leadership in promoting environmental conservation.
Participants are aware of the call of the Holy Father to them asking for ecological conversion, meaning the transformation of hearts and minds towards greater love of God, humanity, and creation. Beneficiaries acknowledged the human contribution to social and ecological crises and the need to act in ways that nurture communion, healing, and renewing our Common Home. They understood that the environment should bring humanity peace not trouble and in that regard it deserves to be protected and cared for.
Tree Planting activities
For Mpuguso Parish Mbeya Tanzania, the tree planting activities were conducted respectively on Saturday 24th February 2024 and on 23rd March 2024 for the households and youth. The two groups planted respectively 300 and 200 avocado trees. Households planted their seedlings at home while the youth decided to plant theirs at the parish compound. The choice of the seedlings was driven by the fact that avocadoes are economical in space and can serve food and income in the future. They can grow together with other corps on the same land.
For Mwyiendaje village, they planted a total of 400 trees. They are Trichilia emetica, Mangifera indica (mango tree), Phoenix dactylifera (palm tree), Azadirachta indica (neem tree), avocado tree, lime, and orange trees, miharadali.
Youth Environmental Campaign
To mark the Laudato Si Week, the young beneficiaries from Mpuguso Mbeya Tanzania held two environmental campaigns within their community and the parish compound. The aim was to spread the message of Laudato Si on the care for our Common Home. They distributed flyers to the community: Mpuguso market, nearby parishes, and bus stops. They used a big banner during the procession on Sunday to motivate people about environmental protection.
Ground survey for borehole drilling
