John-Paul Roberts

The impact of spiraling informal settlements in the country cannot be ignored as one of the leading factors that are exacerbating climate change. Their increased vulnerability to climate change, the lack of resources, and ill preparedness for disaster further exacerbate the devastating impacts of climate change. Unprecedented population increase, homes and other buildings infrastructure in urban area increases the exposure and vulnerability to floods, crime, and fires. A lack of basic needs and services leads to informal settlements having impacts on the environment.  A recent tour to Tembisa informal settlements by CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WORKSHOP delegates revealed that the informal settlement may have resulted from various factors that include rapid urbanization, lack of affordable housing and unequal distribution of resources and opportunities. Despite efforts made by the government to improve housing conditions and living standards, the informal settlement continues to grow due to high demand for housing and feasible alternatives. The settlement is facing significant environmental injustices and human life as people are vulnerable to infectious disease. Poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water, poor drainage systems, poor waste management, over population were major and identified as environmental issues. The observations were that the area is vulnerable to flooding, veld fires and diseases leading to loss of human and artech life. Therefore, the CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE STRATEGY AND IMPLEMENTATION PLAN WORKSHOP which included government stakeholders, different departments, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), aimed to come up with solutions and mitigation to informal settlements and their impacts in the country. The workshop proposed that the government should create mutual relationships with the people living in the informal settlements. This included coming up with realistic solutions tailor made to address the problems encountered, as well as empowering communities with agency and networking capacity on climate resilient human settlements. Furthermore, the workshop raised the need for active involvement of the communities in the planning and implementation processes as this would inspire a buy in from communities and increase the success of any endeavor made to address the problems encountered in the society. The plausible mitigatory measures suggested included building safe homes and settling people in safe places to preserve those ecosystems. Also, addressing vulnerable settlements that are settled in unsafe places. The government should also consider establishing and the enforcement of strong intergovernmental and societal laws and the arrangement of informal settlements in the country. More so, there is need for the mobilisation of financial resources, creating free educational awareness campaigns on dangers of informal settlements, investing in natured based solutions, fighting mass and illegal migration from the neighboring countries were among recommendations made to the government to respond to climate change and informal settlements .

On Saturday 4th of November 2023 young people from Eluvukweni Anglican church in Crossroad Cape Town hosted a hike, at Table Mountain. The motivation of the day was to create a strong bond among the young people but also to connect with nature. The hike was attended by 40 young people from the host Parish, and they were joined by members from the Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF) from the Diocese of Saldanha Bay.   The day was opened with words of prayer and encouragement from Mr Masibulele who’s the member of Eluvukweni but also the Diocesan AYF president. He stressed that it is important for us to initiate such events which not only creates a bond amongst us but also allows for one to de-stress from the situations we are faced with back in our communities. The hike was filled with fun, songs of praise on route and meditations along the Pipe Track trail. The day ended with a picnic for all at Camps Bay beach where young people shared snacks and a meal by the beach under the hot sunny Cape Town weather. Photo Credit : Sisipho and Malesedi

It was a day of great jubilee at St Michael’s Primary school in Harare on Tuesday 31 October 2023 when 57 Grade 5 learners from the school and seven adults from St Michael’s Anglican church in Harare had their graduation for having completed a ten week long home vegetable gardening course, which was facilitated by Ms Mazibuko. During the day weeklong program, the learners who were organised by Ms Thobeka Babi and adults learned how to do a seedling boxes, start a vegetable nursery, add sheet mulch, prepare a tea fertilizer, planting, intercrop and how to plant trees.  During the graduation learners from different grades of the school joined in to celebrate the achievement of their peers with traditional songs, dance and a praise poem. Revd Deon McDillon who is the Diocesan Environmental Coordinator for the Diocese of False Bay gave a word of thanks to the school for having allowed its learners to gain this needed skill. He also thanked the learners and all participants for their commitment and mostly to the educators and facilitator.

On spring day the 1st of September, the Together4Creation team held a youth gathering to kick off the beginning of the Season of Creation. Which was held at St Thomas Church, Rondebosch. About 80 young people from eight congregations from different denominations (Catholic, Anglican, Pentecostal, Lutheran and Dutch Reformed) across Cape Town attended the event. Our evening started off with a welcome from Rev Claire Nye Hunter, Rector of St Thomas & John-Paul Roberts, followed by the opening prayer from Jacques Strydom from the Dutch Reformed Church, before Rev Rachel gave an introduction to the Season of Creation. We ate together and watched the documentary, The Letter: A Message for Our Earth, in which Pope Francis spoke to people who represent the voices of the youth, the poor, animal life and indigenous voices. Afterwards we had smallgroup discussions about what we as youth can do in our own areas and congregations to combat climate injustice. The theme of this year’s Season of Creation is “Let Justice and Peace Flow” and comes from Amos 5:24. We are invited to join the river of justice and peace and take up ecological justice and be a voice for those affected by climate injustice (You can visit https://seasonofcreation.org for more information). Our evening ended off with a final blessing and closing by Fr Emmanuel the Vicar for Youth in the Archdiocese of Cape Town.