AC Central Africa seminar: cascading consequences at EPRw

Three EPRw delegates (Pasteur Bienvenu MUSABYIMANA, Pasteur Marceline NIWENSHUTI and Monsieur Jean Claude HAKIZIMANA) took part in the seminar Action commune 2024-2028 - Region Afrique Centrale on the theme "Habiter autrement la création", held in Douala, Cameroon, from March 12 to 15, 2024. Thanks to this seminar :

They were more aware of the danger of human action on biodiversity
They felt invited to rethink their relationship with nature and recognize the importance of biodiversity in everyday life.
They felt challenged to adopt more environmentally-friendly practices, and to favor forms of artistic expression that value nature and biodiversity.
They understand the need to use art as a means of raising awareness and inspiring people to take action to protect nature.
They were convinced that by combining creativity with a commitment to biodiversity, we can help preserve our planet and create a more harmonious, balanced world.

Post-seminar activities

Inspired by the content and resolutions of the Joint Action seminar on the theme of "Living differently in creation", the EPRw has carried out a number of actions:

1. Share the knowledge acquired during the seminar with the Church's Pastors

The meeting organized on April 04, 2024 aimed to popularize the theme "Inhabiting creation differently" in the Presbytery of Kigali/EPRw through Parish Pastors and to bring Pastors working in the Presbytery of Kigali/EPRw to be catalysts of behavioral change in the face of creation.
Forty-five pastors took part in the feedback session, which addressed a number of issues:

Safeguarding creation: a mission for mankind and the Church
Climate change and its consequences
Changing attitudes to creation
Possible actions to promote to mitigate the effects of climate change

At the end of the meeting, the participants felt concerned and recognized :

That they feel guilty for having been the destroyers of the environment
That they feel awakened to adore the environment and become its advocates
That from now on, their behavior towards the environment will change, become positive and favorable.

The exchange of experiences and the heightened awareness encouraged the pastors to integrate the safeguarding of creation into their daily activities.

2. Mobilize and encourage the Church's youth to become more involved in the work of valuing and preserving the environment.

Young people are in the majority at Kigali Presbytery. They are a category of faithful who understand easily, put into practice quickly, and who can bring about a long-lasting change in habits and mentality.
Sixty-two members of youth committees from 12 parishes took part in the seminar held on May 28, 2024, the aims of which were to inform the Church's young people about creation and its current situation, and to prepare them to develop a faith, an attitude and actions in favor of the environment.
The meeting developed several themes:

A biblical approach to creation
Impact of human actions on the environment
The role of Church youth in respecting, protecting and sustaining the environment

The young people who took part in this environmental training course told us:

They were able to understand the relationship between their Christian faith and the environment.
They have realized that they are often destroying their environment without realizing it.
Good stewardship of creation is their primary responsibility at home, in the Church and in their society.

3. School and the environment: the role of teachers and students" campaign

The education provided by a school shapes and forms a person. It transmits not only knowledge, but also cultural and Christian values. So, by integrating environmental theory and practice into general school education, we prepare people to be responsible for creation.
The Church has therefore chosen to :

Talk to Church School teachers about promoting environmental protection
Raising awareness among Church schoolchildren of their role in respecting and protecting the environment

The event, organized at the Groupe Scolaire de Mburabuturo, benefited 753 primary school pupils, 540 secondary school pupils and 42 teachers.
Emphasis was placed on several elements:

Biodiversity and its importance
Climate change and its consequences
The role of teachers and students in creating green schools and communities

According to their testimonies, the sensitized pupils attest that they will no longer destroy trees or kill certain insects because these are useful to them. They also say that from now on, they will contribute to good waste management. As for the teachers, they are committed to reinforcing education in the safeguarding of creation, and to working together with the pupils to make their school grounds green.

4. Preparation of fruit and forest tree nurseries to be planted in Church plots and parishioners' fields.

Some of our parishes are in the eastern part of the country, where rain is scarce. Planting a lot of trees of various kinds would be a response to this situation and would help improve the food supply and the economy.
By greening its communities, the Church aims to get parishes, especially those in areas where rain is scarce, used to preparing fruit and forest tree nurseries every year to prevent desertification and strengthen family nutrition. She hopes to increase the number of trees in her plots for greenery and profitability.
The nursery preparation activity took place in two parishes between June and November 2024. When the trees were planted, 310 people attended and participated.
During this period, the Church reiterated the affirmation of 2 principles:

The importance of trees (fruit and forest) in human life
Greenery at church and in the community: our mission

All those involved in planting the prepared trees expressed their joy and satisfaction with the Church for helping them to be convinced that the tree is life. For them, to give them the trees to plant is to give them life. And then to keep the tree until it grows and produces teaches them to continually manage their lives.

Made à Kigali - Rwanda, April 15, 2025

Pastor Bienvenu MUSABYIMANA
EPRw