Dear young people and leaders of the world, as we celebrate World Environment Day, let us be inspired by the theme of “Land restoration, Desertification, and Drought Resilience.” It is a call to action to embrace our duty to protect and restore our planet, for Laudato youth aspire to Unite Young People for Climate Action.

The earth is facing unprecedented challenges due to desertification and drought, leading to the degradation of our land and the loss of precious ecosystems. We cannot sit idly by and watch as our environment deteriorates before our eyes. In so doing it is our future that we are playing with and for you leaders if you do not act it is our bright future that you are depriving us of.

The slogan of this day was Our Land Our, Our Future. Now I understand deeply that this part of our national anthem was composed by George Wilberforce Kakoma.

Oh, Uganda! The land that feeds us,
By sun and fertile soil grown.
For our own dear land, we shall always stand,
The Pearl of Africa’s Crown.

So, for us as Ugandans need to clearly understand that protecting our land is protecting our future and caring for the future of the young people is caring for the future of our nation. So, it is up to us, the youth of today, to take a stand and make a difference. We have the power to make a positive impact on the world around us. Let us commit to restoring our land, combating desertification, and building resilience to drought.

Together, we can create a more sustainable future for generations to come. Let us rise to the challenge and fulfill our duty to protect our planet. The time to act is now.

Join us in the Laudato Youth Initiative as we work towards a healthier, more resilient world by uniting young people with mentors for climate action. Together, we can make a difference.

In unity and action,

Sarah Kirikumwino
for Laudato youth