Bino Teboho Makhalanyane

Following a presentation and feedback session by Ms Keulukwa Hanghome, who attended the 2025 Climate YES Bootcamp in Johannesburg, confirmation candidates at St Martin Efidi Parish joined Bishop Djuulume on 12 July 2026 for a special tree-planting initiative. Together, they planted 40 different trees, including food-producing and indigenous species. The initiative aims to encourage young people to take responsibility for the environment while demonstrating practical ways of caring for creation. The food-producing trees will contribute to food security and community wellbeing, while the indigenous trees will help support local biodiversity and strengthen the natural environment. Through this initiative, the confirmation candidates are putting their faith into action and helping to live out the Fifth Mark of Mission. Their efforts are a reminder that every tree planted is an investment in a healthier, greener and more sustainable future for generations to come.

On Thursday, 25 June, coordinated by the Green Anglicans office together with the diocesan Mothers Union Eco-champ Mme Hlalethwa, members of the Mothers’ Union from the Parish of the Resurrection, Maokeng, Kroonstad, in the Diocese of the Free State, gathered for a smart vegetable gardening training session to equip members with practical skills to grow healthy food at home.The session began with a devotion led by Ordinand Maema, followed by a time of fellowship over tea. Archdeacon Ngcola then led a teaching session on the biblical principles of working and caring for the land, encouraging participants to see food gardening as both a practical activity and an important part of caring for God’s creation.The training highlighted the importance of growing home-grown vegetables and the health benefits of eating fresh, nutritious food. Participants were encouraged to make use of available resources in their own homes and communities to develop sustainable food gardens.Following the teaching, participants took part in a practical session where they learned how to establish trench beds at home. They were shown how household organic waste can be used to enrich the soil and improve its fertility. The training emphasised the importance of healthy, living soil, reminding participants that healthy soil produces healthy food.The Mothers’ Union members also had the opportunity to create their own garden beds and learn how to plant a variety of seeds using the fruit, leaf, and root-rotation method. They were further introduced to the benefits of mulching, including retaining moisture, protecting the soil, and supporting healthy plant growth.The training provided participants with practical knowledge they can take back to their homes and communities, empowering them to grow their own food, improve household nutrition, and contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future.

Anglican communities across South Africa celebrated Mandela Day by turning 67 minutes of service into meaningful action for people, communities and God’s creation. At St Michael’s and All Angels in Sunnyside, in the Diocese of Pretoria, the Mothers Union, together with young people and parish members, cleaned their surroundings while growing spinach and spring onions, promoting both environmental care and food security. In the Diocese of Grahamstown, communities across several archdeaconries served soup to children and community members. Mothers’ Union President Wendy Mfazwe joined the initiative. In Kidd’s Beach, members visited an old-age home, while in Scenery Park, East London, members collected 10 bags of rubble during a cleanup and prepared the soil for planting new seedlings. At St Mary’s in the Diocese of Kimberley and Kuruman, the congregation dedicated 67 minutes to cleaning the church grounds, while the Mothers’ Union prepared and served a meal. In the Diocese of Christ, the King, Mothers’ Union members and the Hospital Committee cleaned Kookrus Clinic in Meyerton, collecting more than 10 bags of rubbish. The Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Natal marked the occasion through practical eco-learning. Members explored portable gardens made from recycled 2-litre bottles, sustainable food production, poultry care and crafts. They are also working to create a recycled-plastic mat and to collect 300 eco-bricks to build a community bench. At St Paul’s Conville in the Diocese of George, Mothers’ Union members, youth, Sunday School, the Brigade, Servers’ Guild and parishioners joined Skynet George in cleaning the church grounds and streets of Borchards. The service ended with games, prizes, soup and fellowship. In the Diocese of Mbashe, Mothers’ Union members partnered with the local municipality and Provincial Communications for a 67-minute community cleanup. These initiatives demonstrate the spirit of the Anglican Communion’s Fifth Mark of Mission: “To safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.” From growing food and reducing waste to cleaning communities and caring for vulnerable people, Anglicans are showing that caring for people and caring for creation are deeply connected.

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, forty members of the Mothers’ Union (MU) from the Maluti Archdeaconry in the Diocese of Mzimvubu gathered at the Parish of St Augustine for a practical training workshop on home gardening. The workshop was held under the biblical theme from Genesis 2:15: “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it.”The training formed part of the Diocese’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, food security, and sustainable livelihoods, encouraging church members to care for God’s creation while improving household resilience through home food production.The workshop was coordinatated by Mme Selloane Mongoato and facilitated by Ms Govuza and Mr Mako, who provided participants with practical knowledge and hands-on demonstrations. The training covered key aspects of successful gardening, including soil preparation, the responsible use of herbicides and insecticides, and effective planting techniques. Participants gained valuable skills that will enable them to establish and maintain productive home gardens within their communities.Beyond the technical training, the workshop laid the foundation for long-term community support and collaboration. Participants agreed to establish a study group that will be formally registered to continue learning together, share experiences, and encourage one another in sustainable farming practices. The group also committed to regular monitoring of their gardens and plans to conduct soil testing by collecting and submitting soil samples to better understand the nutritional needs of their land.As part of the practical implementation of the workshop, five families received vegetable seedlings to establish their own home gardens. The facilitators and local coordinators will continue to monitor and support these households, providing guidance and encouragement as the gardens develop.As these gardens begin to flourish, they will not only provide fresh produce for families but also serve as living examples of how faith and environmental action can work together to nurture both people and the earth.

The Diocese of Free State officially launched its Plastic Free July campaign with inspiring environmental awareness activities led by Green Anglicans Eco-Champions, encouraging church members to embrace sustainable living as an expression of Christian stewardship. On Saturday, 4 July 2026, Green Anglicans Eco-Champion Mrs Motsei Hlalethwa shared practical insights on reducing the use of single-use plastics during the Mothers’ Union (MU) Quarterly Kroonstad Archdeaconry Executive Committee Meeting, held at the Parish of St Clare, Bothaville. Addressing Mothers’ Union leaders, Mrs Hlalethwa highlighted the growing environmental challenges caused by plastic pollution and encouraged members to make simple yet meaningful lifestyle changes that protect God’s creation. She reminded participants that caring for the environment is part of the Church’s mission and that every individual has a role to play in reducing waste. During the meeting, Mrs Hlalethwa also recognised and appreciated Mme Priscilla Matjila, the Mothers’ Union Archdeaconry Secretary, for her consistent commitment to promoting Green Anglicans’ environmental awareness initiatives. As a token of appreciation, Mme Matjila received a beautifully crafted Mothers’ Union recycled-material shopping bag, symbolising the importance of choosing reusable alternatives over single-use plastics. The gathering further encouraged the “Blue Ladies” to embrace environmental conservation through food gardening and sustainable agriculture. Members were inspired to live out the slogan “Re kgaba ka ditshingwana” (“We take pride in our gardens”) and to make “working the soil fashionable again” by establishing home gardens that contribute to food security while caring for creation. The Plastic Free July message continued Sunday, 5 July 2026, when Green Anglicans Eco-Champion Mme Manibijara addressed the congregation of St Edward the King and the Confessor Parish in Parys. Speaking on the importance of reducing plastic pollution, she encouraged worshippers to adopt environmentally friendly habits, stressing that sustainable living should become a permanent lifestyle rather than a temporary campaign. Using the Plastic Free July theme, “Small steps, big difference ,” Mme Manibijara reminded the congregation that living sustainably should not be viewed as a burden or another household chore. Instead, she described it as a spiritual discipline that reflects mindfulness, gratitude, and respect for God’s creation. She encouraged every household to begin with one or two simple changes, including: As the Plastic Free July campaign continues throughout the month, parishioners are encouraged to remember that meaningful environmental change does not require perfection. Rather, every small action contributes towards healthier communities, cleaner environments, and a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Throughout June, members of the Mothers’ Union (MU) across the Diocese of Lesotho commemorated World Environment Day through a variety of environmental activities under the theme “Faith and Stewardship.” Guided by the six R’s: Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, and Recycle, members demonstrated that caring for God’s creation is an important expression of Christian faith. At the Parish of the Resurrection, Mme Mankatana Mot’soanakaba delivered an inspiring presentation on the importance of caring for the environment. She highlighted the strong connection between a clean, healthy, natural environment and human mental health and wellbeing, encouraging parishioners to become responsible stewards of God’s creation. Meanwhile, the Parish of St Martin’s organised a community clean-up and environmental awareness campaign, bringing together church members and residents to care for their neighbourhood while promoting responsible waste management. The Church of the Parish Shepherd also took to the streets of Makhoathi in Maseru to clean up a local illegal dumping site. One of the major challenges identified during the clean-up was the large number of improperly discarded used baby nappies, highlighting the need for greater community awareness around waste disposal and environmental health. As part of restoring dignity while caring for both people and creation, the Mothers’ Union from the Cathedral Parish visited a local school to donate sanitary towels to young girls. This initiative reflected the Mothers’ Union’s commitment to holistic stewardship, caring not only for the environment but also for the well-being and dignity of vulnerable members of the community. Through these activities, the Mothers’ Union demonstrated that environmental stewardship is an integral part of Christian discipleship. By serving both people and the planet, they continue to live out their faith in practical ways, inspiring communities to protect God’s creation for present and future generations.