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Members of Mothers Union in Sekubu, Lesotho have embarked on bee farming. They asked the Ministry of Forestry to give lessongs on Bee Farming. They held a week long workshop. They were given a black box and two bee hives as a start. Then they searched for wild bees and domesticated them On Friday they planted roses, pumpkins and sunflowers to that the bees can get nectar #MothersUnion

You can download our newsletter at the following link and read up on the amazing activities that took place over the past year from the Global Green Anglicans Movement. You can download the newsletter from the button below.

    Mr. B. White, the Co-ordinator of Green Anglicans in the Diocese of Mthatha was invited to speak during the Provincial AWF conference on the 26th of October in Krugerdorp. He spoke about Care and Protection for the Environment. Members of the AWF were impressed by the presentation and even made a pledge of commitment to take care of the environment as individuals (in their households, and work places), at Parish and archdeaconry level. They even promised to start projects like recycling and re-using objects, tree planting and gardening. They said they would reduce the length of showers to save water              

Mothers Union Eco-champs from 23 Dioceses across South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini were chosen to attend an Eco-champion Training run by the Green Anglicans The event started with a message of encouragement from the Worldwide President of the Mothers’ Union-  Sheran Harper for this first of a kind group of MU Eco-champs! Rev Rachel Mash led a session on the Bible and Creation Care, unpacking Scriptures on the theme. The Mothers then had a to prepare mini – sermons in groups. This was followed by a Bible Study on Rom 8:22 “Where do you hear the groaning of Creation in your context?” Very sad issues were identified which are impacting on food security and increasing poverty – such as soil erosion, flooding and drought. Our children are being poisoned through air pollution and water being filled with toxins, the burning of plastic and chemicals leaching into our water. Animals and pollinators are being wiped out. Illegal dumping is destroying our communities and the children have no safe place to play We ended the session with a word of hope – for Creation is groaning as in childbirth – the pains are coming now but new life is being born The day ended with a beautiful outdoor service led by the Provincial Liaison Bishop for the Environment – Bishop Charles May On Day two we begin with prayers outside and then moved to the text of Rom 8 : 19 “Creation is standing on tiptoe waiting for the children of God to be revealed”.  We shared what we are already doing, our successes and our challenges: It was encouraging to hear that Mothers are already doing   Tree planting, both indigenous and fruit trees.  We are doing  clean up campaigns and beautifying our churches. We have started using plastic to make  mats, sun hats and bags. We have stopped using Styrofoam and bring our own bottles.. People have been trained in home food gardens and are passing the knowledge onto youth and children.  We are observing environmental days and filling up dongas and eroded areas. We are making sleeping bags for the homeless using recycled materials. And partnerships have been formed with municipalities, schools and the departments of Environment in the different countries. Two very powerful sessions then followed looking at the impact of Climate Change on  gender and health. Ms Letago  Kgomoeswana shared about how women are more impacted by climate change disasters as they have to walk further for water or wood. When they are in relief shelters they are at risk of sexual harassment.  Our second speaker  Mme Rose Lamola told of the devastating impacts of high temperatures in particular to pregnant women as the danger of early delivery or a still birth increases exponentially. The afternoon session started with unpacking the resolution passed a few years ago at Provincial MU level to stop using Styrofoam and sing use plastic at Church events. The mothers discussed how to do this in small groups. The final session was a moving one looking at how the church can prepare for the growing number of disasters such as flooding, drought, fires and storms.  Then plans were made to take to the Provincial Conference in December. On Sunday we ended with a moving outdoor Eucharist led by Rev Rachel Mash where we were commissioned as MU Eco Champs We are so appreciative of the Mothers Union Provincial Executive and Bino Makhalanyane’s hard work as a wonderful  facilitator and  doing logistics, to JP Roberts for designing the t-shirts and badges and for SAFCEI for financial support for the Conference    

46 bishops and senior church leaders together with the new Climate Commission of the South African Council of Churches and Youth Climate Activists gathered for a historic “Ecobishops” conference this week in Noordhoek, Cape Town The leaders were from 11 denominations and came from South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana.. The Conference was organised by SAFCEI, Green Anglicans and the Centre for Public Witness Day One Cardinal Steven Brislin addressed us on the topic of “The importance of Laudato Si in South Africa ” and was followed by Anglican Bishop of Lesotho Dr Vicentia Kgabe who spoke on the environmental Challenges in Lesotho. This was followed by a sobering talk by Prof Coleen Vogel on the five year forecast of climate change in Southern Africa. She was folllowed by Climate Yes! activist Tshepo Mohapi who challenged the leaders to listen to the voices of young people. We reflected on the groaning of creation in our context in Bible study. Rev Rachel Mash led a session on the Biblical basis for creation care. Day Two We had a presentation from the Presidential Climate Commission and learned about the SAFCEI programmes . 18 month action plans were made by geographical region and a statement was prepared. This will be released shortly We started and ended each day with God in Creation, enjoying the amazing beauty of the area.Our outdoor services were led by Rev Sikawu (MCSA) and Rev Dewald Hoffman (DRC). The youth led the final service We were blessed by the presence of SAFCEI founder Bishop Geoff Davies who led the final blessing.

The Anglican Youth of Southern Africa (AYSA) hosted its Provincial Youth Council consultation at St Peter’s Place in Johannesburg from 10-12 October 2024. During the three-day consultation youth leaders and Chaplains from across the Anglican Church of Southern Africa came together to share experiences, learn and elect a new executive. During day one delegates share their diocesan reports and it went without notice how much work young people across the province are doing in Caring for Creation. Day two started our day with a morning prayer led by the Diocese of Natal and the Diocese of Swaziland, after an online session with the Metropolitan of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. The Green Anglicans were also invited to share on the topic “Climate Change as a Human Rights Issue , during which Bino Makhalanyane by making use of the different constitutions of the countries which make up AYSA,  shared why Climate Change is a matter of Human Rights and not just only for those who are in love with nature ( have green hand/ tree huggers ), Mr Solly Nyezi from the African Climate Alliance (ACA) shared more practical activism which youth people from ACA are taking the minster of Minerals and Resources to court under the #CancelCoal campaign , while Revd Geke van Vliet gave insight to theologians in the form of youth reps and Chaplains present on The Theology of Climate Justice. In closing the day, we had our elections and commissioning of the new leadership. Day three started with a morning prayer led by the Diocese of False Bay and the Diocese of George, which was followed by an outreach visit, to the local children’s home, were delegates had a chance to share with those less privileged and play with the children from the home . On the way back to the consultation venue, PYC members had a #AYSA VS. Litter.   Pick it Up campaign, and Cleaning the streets In closing, we had an outside Eucharist led by former Chaplain The Venerable Archdeacon Mpho Mohale, who encouraged us to be transformed as we descend from the Mount of Transfiguration. The Green Anglicans wishes to congratulate the newly elected PYC committee and thank the outgoing executive which was led by Ms Lulama Ntuta for their ministry and hard work over the past three years. Photo Credit : Mandisa Gumada and Melissa Awu.