COMMUNITY ACTORS COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE
Stakeholders’ meeting
Rev. Fr Daniel Stayila, the Bishop’s Secretary attended the meeting. He delivered the message and greetings from the Archbishop of Mbeya.
The team agreed to support the process of transferring knowledge of the environment from the elders to the young people.
Stakeholders committed to continue supporting and encouraging the use of natural materials and methods, especially on food. They believed that “in going natural, one promotes creation” A person consuming natural foods is healthier and stronger. “ukitumia kitu cha asili, unaendeleza uumbaji”
Youth and youth animators workshop on climate change
Participants were able to map local resources endangered or affected by climate change and identified ways of redressing them. They understood the background the function of the Ecosystem, its problems, and its management within the Kisondela ward and the surrounding villages in the Pakati Division of the Rungwe District of Mbeya Region. They acknowledged that people cut trees for wood fuel from the remaining natural forests. Deforestation impacts in the Villages of Kisondela ward include sedimentation and siltation and drying up of water sources e.g. Kara river
They recommend the following:
- Introduction and Promotion of Agroforestry farms, Woodlots, Domestic animal keeping (Dairy) (zero-grazing), Beekeeping
- Establishment of tree/fruit nurseries by Youths and Households level for the entire society/community (Kisondela ward, villages within the Pakati Division).
- Establishment of woodlots, enrichment planting (gap filling of trees)
Households’ forum on community assets
Participants were encouraged to create a self-growth group to enable them to share best practices and learn from one another. During the training, they mapped the community assets and analyzed their greatest needs, and ideas, and proposed solutions to protect community resources to preserve their livelihood.
Households forum on finance
Participants were informed about the procedure to access affordable financial and business advisory services, such as market literacy, microcredit, loans, etc. They were trained in resource planning and budgeting. They identified alternative means of livelihood.
Household Forum on Laudato Si, Common Good, and Environmental Protection
The training focused on three main points:
Relationship between Environmental Ecology and the Economy
Participants understood that the environment provides land, water, air energy resource and so many other natural resources which are essential for their development. The facilitator also enlightens them on how taking care of the environment spiritually can help the development of the economy and bring peace and stability to the area and the people.
Ecology and Spiritual Life
Spiritual ecology is an approach that tries to situate the environment and ecology as intrinsic to human nature. Facilitators shared different sets of beliefs when it comes to the environment. “You can go in the forest (nature) to read and think of God’s words and pray if we will take care of the environment” so that we can’t complain to God for not having enough rain for agriculture. It is finding meaningful spaces in our environment as a way to reconnect with nature and by extension the environment. Many believe that animals are entitled to the same rights and respect that humans receive.
Conversion Ecology
Laudato Si Movement defines ecological conversion as the “Transformation of hearts and minds toward greater love of God, fellow humans, and the creation. It is a process of acknowledging our contribution to the social and ecological crisis and acting in ways that nurture communion, healing, and renewing our common home “. Environment should bring us peace and we should protect it for love for today and for future use”. That will require our ecological conversion.
Tree planting activities by the community youth
With the aim to restore the ecosystem, rebuild the degraded biodiversity, and increase carbon sinks, young people from KISA Parish conducted tree planting campaigns on 15th April 2023.
Vegetable gardening
To mitigate the impact of climate change on the daily lives of the beneficiaries and ensure food diversification and food availability, ICMICA supported them with seeds that will enable them to do vegetable gardening. The photos below show the nursery sites (at the parish) for group farming.
Tree nursery training
