Ncumisa

LEADERSHIP TRAINING IN LESOTHO The leaders of youth organizations were called together by the Diocesan Youth Chaplain  to be trained in Care for Creation Leaders from the Servers Guild, St Agnes, St Mary Magdalene, Anglican Youth , Youth Brigade and others gathered to learn skills to help them teach their youth to deal with issues such as little, land degradation and climate change. Rev Rachel Mash and Bino Makalanyane led the workshop using two manuals – the Ryan the Rhino Manual for Sunday School and younger children and the Care for Creation Manual for teenagers A lot of fun was had in the interactive workshop and we look forward to hearing how the young people will take the issues forward

Green Anglicans attend the Laudato Si Conference, Nairobi It is now four years since the release of the encyclical letter, Laudato Si’, On Care for Our Common Home, by Pope Francis on May 25, 2015. In the Encyclical, Pope Francis calls on all people to be united by the planet that they share to be involved in creating a new dialogue about the future of the planet.   On this occasion, UN Environment’s Faith for Earth Initiative – along with partners including CYNESA (The Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa), WWF Regional Office for Africa, and the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is organizing a two-day conference on 15-16 July 2019 at the United Nations Office at Nairobi. The conference will have speakers who will provide a scientific perspective on the current state of the world and talk about the importance of youth engagement. It will address urgent needs and opportunities in Africa and showcase best practice across the continent and the role of youth leadership and innovation. It will be a forum for deeper reflection on Catholic and other faiths’ social teachings on care for the creation from an African perspective but enriched by global perspectives. This conference is about creating hope and provides a platform for faith organizations, youth and indigenous people to share their views and speak with one voice. Rev Massy Walas from Zimbabwe and Irene Sebastian Waweru are representing the Anglican Church at the conference of 400 young people.

Anglican Youth Of Mzimvubu address climate change at BGFS conference_ The Diocese of Mzimvubu held their annual Bafana and Girls friendly Society Conference at St Goerges Parish-Mt Frere Archdeaconry. Members of BGFS and other youth guilds gathererd together for fellowship and prayer. A tree was planted in dedication of Fifth mark mission by the Vicar General + Dr Rt Rev S.T. Mzamane. Later during the conference a presentation about climate change was done,this was also a way to educate young people about climate change and how it affects the church and the community we live in. The presentation also highlighted few activities that can be done in Parishes to make sure that they take part and join the movement, and be Green Anglicans. Yolanda Makaula Photo cred. Revd. S Majozini

CLIMATE CHANGE IS  A HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUE The Students of ASF (Anglican Students Federation) gathered for their Annual Provincial Conference at the Paramount Conference Centre near Rustenberg. Students from five countries attended. One of the days was dedicated to the Fifth Mark of Mission.  Amnesty International showed how it is important to frame Climate Change as a human rights issue, not only an environmental issue. Environmental degradation affects our constitutional rights to health, clean water, shelter and many other issues. We also had a speaker on the issue of waste, looking at how it is also impacting on people’s health and quality of life. We heard of the impacts of Climate Change on our Province as we watched the video of the Archbishop’s visit to Beira, devastated by flooding. Fr Ngube shared the devastating situation in Namibia where the drought is forcing people  to dig very deep for water, and shared how he lost his brother who had been digging down seven meters when the whole collapsed onto him. A lunchtime service was held at the lake, led by Rev Rachel Mash where we really worshipped with all of Creation – as sheep walked past , ducks were swimming on the lake and birds were flying above our heads. The afternoon outreach visited several centres such as orphanages, and old people’s homes. One group went to St Andrew Thlabane were a team from Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa were taught “Farming God’s way” using no tillage and very little compost. The importance of mulching – using God’s blanket” was stressed and this method is very climate resilient, requiring little watering. Photos : Taaso, Amnesty International , David Junior

DIOCESE OF MPUMALANGA TACKLES AIR POLLUTION The Anglican Youth of Mpumalanga Diocese celebrated national youth month by hosting a Diocesan youth conference at Holy Cross Kwanyamazani. The weekend saw over 150 young people from across the diocese coming together to share time in fellowship and prayer. One of the significate moments was planting of a litchi tree by the Diocesan Bishop, Bishop Kgomosotho, during this moment the Bishop shared three key points with the youth; It is from the roots where the tree gains it’s strength and power, and so should we as young people be rooted in Christ as He is the source of live.  In planting a fruit tree we are expecting that one day we shall enjoy it’s nice litchi fruit, so should we be like the tree and be productive in producing the fruits of life which people can come to for spiritual thirst. Lastly let us be like the words from psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” The youth later during the day the conference went on a debate using the new Care for Creation Youth manual, the house was divided into four groups under the topic “opening a new coal mine”.  (Parents, Coal unions, Environmentalists and unemployed people)  This showed that young people are aware of how bad the situation around air pollution is in their area and are really seeking ways in which they can compact these without having the risk of no jobs in their local communities. The young people were trained to use the manual back in their churches  The weekend closed off with the  Gala dinner under the theme of gold and black. Bino Makalanyane Photo credit – Basetsana.