By Ms Kisembo Immaculate | Laudato Si Club Patron, Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S
Laudato Youth take to Radio to Raise Awareness on Climate Action. In a compelling effort to raise awareness about the climate crisis, and the need to pray and care for those affected by Climate Change. The Laudato Si Club of Holy Cross Lake View took to the airwaves through a special media engagement on Busoga One Radio, under the theme:
“What Does It Mean to Sow Seeds of Peace and Hope for Creation?”
Program, an Initiative of the Laudato Youth Initiative that Mentors Laudato Si Clubs in schools and dioceses, rooted in Catholic values and inspired by Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’s groundbreaking 2015 encyclical aims to unite youth around faith-driven environmental action and explained the meaning of Laudato Si and how it can be applied in families, communities, schools and churches to care for the environment.
This radio program served as a vital platform to inform, engage, and mobilize the public in the fight against plastic pollution, the promotion of sustainable solutions, and the upcoming Laudato Si Green Festival.
Our school chaplain Fr. Douglas Alinaitwe, C.S.C lead that team expound on the Church’s call to environmental stewardship. Our actions are a direct response to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor, echoing Pope Francis’s appeal for all people of goodwill to see climate care as a moral responsibility.
Media for Mission: Reaching the Public
Mrs Krystal Asiimwe moderated the program that helped us share our mission with listeners across the region, raising awareness about:
- The Laudato Si Green Festival scheduled for July 19th at Holy Cross Lake View S.S.S
- The dangers of plastic pollution and the need for a plastic-free lifestyle and the up- comming community clean up in Bugembe
- The power of youth-led climate innovation, intergenerational knowledge sharing, and community-based solutions.
Listeners were invited to reflect on the festival’s theme: “Sowing Seeds of Peace and Hope for Creation” and consider their role in building a greener, more peaceful Uganda. Given the highlight of the program
July 18th: Community Clean-Up Day
As a precursor to the festival, July 18th will feature a massive community clean-up exercise in Bugembe and surrounding areas. This hands-on action targets plastic waste and aims to restore cleanliness to our streets, markets, and public spaces. It’s a clear demonstration of our commitment to transforming words into action.
We’re calling on schools, religious leaders, youth groups, and residents to join us in this meaningful activity because when we clean our communities, we clean our hearts too thats what education for service means to us.
Highlights of the Laudato Si Green Festival
The two-day festival is a spiritual and educational celebration that will include:
- Laudato Si Mass:A spiritual act of solidarity with all suffering from climate-related disasters and lack.
- Eco Walks & Peace Marches:To highlight the connection between a healthy environment and peaceful communities.
- Youth Climate Parliaments:Platforms for young people to debate and dialogue on environmental justice.
- Knowledge Exhibitions & Innovation Booths:Featuring sustainable agriculture, smart dustbin innovations, plastic recycling solutions, water-saving technologies, and more.
- Tree Planting and Composting Demonstrations
- Workshops on Regenerative Agriculture & Smart Waste Management
- Climate Quizzes, Debates, and Poetry Slams
- Plastic-Free Campaigns: “Say No to Single-Use Plastics”
With over 12 schools confirmed to participate, this gathering will unite hundreds of youth under one goal, uniting for climate action rooted in faith.
Our Achievements So Far
Our club has made significant strides in the last few years, including:
- Planting over 5,000 trees.
- Launching the Fr. Bob Hesse Sustainability Project in Bugembe.
- Leading youth forums, mental health campaigns, and school gardening programs.
- Participating as young Catholic environmentalists at the 10th Laudato Si Anniversary celebration in Munyonyo.
- Visiting Busoga College Mweri Environmental Club for a Laudato Si Action Activity and talk from Mentors
At the end of the program students made a Call to Action sharing with people on how to participate saying;
Even if you can’t attend in person, you can still make a difference:
- Pick up a seedling and plant a native tree at your home.
- Start a school or community nursery bed.
- Say NO to plastic and YES to reusable, sustainable alternatives.
- Visit our exhibitions or go online to learn more at the Laudato Youth Initiative website.
- Media houses and local organizations: Join us in sharing this message and supporting local climate action.
In a time where climate change threatens our peace, health, and livelihoods, sowing seeds of peace and hope means taking responsibility, acting in love, and uniting across generations and faiths to care for our common home. As Isaiah 32:15 says,
“Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field…”
We invite you to join us on July 18th for the community clean up in Bugembe and July 19th at 8 AM for the Green Mass, and let us together make climate care a living expression of our faith and humanity.
