Laudato Voices | Water and the Environment | March 14, 2026
The Laudato Si’ Club at Nyakasura School has been empowered to take an important step towards protecting the environment and safeguarding life by participating in a hands-on training session on water-quality bio-monitoring. They were trained with hands-on learning for a wetland-friendly future with knowledge on water quality bio monitoring, becoming wetland ambassadors. By understanding the tiny creatures that live in our wetlands, they’re learning the importance of preserving these ecosystems. Empower our young people to protect Uganda’s precious wetlands is preserving the future.
Laudato Si Club at Nyakasura school received training, facilitated by Kadir Mugenyi from Kyaninga Forest Foundation, which equipped students with practical skills to monitor the health of local water sources and understand the ecological indicators that reveal water quality. Through this experience, the students learned that protecting water is not only a scientific responsibility but also a moral one, especially in light of the call to care for our common home in Laudato Si’.
Beginning Water Week with Action
The training also marked the beginning of Water Week activities at the school. This year’s theme, “The Role of Water and Environment in Achieving Uganda’s Tenfold Growth Strategy,” encourages young people to recognize the role of environmental protection in national development and sustainable communities. For the Laudato Si’ Club members, the message is clear: protecting water sources means protecting life itself. Clean water sustains ecosystems, supports livelihoods, and ensures a healthy future for generations to come.
Learning the Science of Water Protection
During the bio-monitoring session, students were introduced to methods used by environmental scientists to assess water quality. They explored how aquatic organisms, water clarity, and ecological indicators can reveal whether a river or wetland is healthy. Through the guidance of the Kyaninga Forest Foundation team, the students gained skills that empower them to become young environmental stewards, capable of observing, documenting, and advocating for the protection of local water resources.
The training was part of the Hilton Project, an initiative that supports environmental education and community partnerships to promote sustainable water management. By investing in young people, the program helps build a generation of leaders ready to address environmental challenges with knowledge and commitment.
Youth Leading the Way
The enthusiasm and curiosity of the Nyakasura students stood out throughout the training. Their willingness to learn and take responsibility for their environment reflects the growing Laudato Si’ generation of youth who are stepping forward as eco-citizens embracing Integral Ecology.
The Laudato Si’ Club believes that everyone has a role to play in protecting nature. As the students reflected during the training, the future depends on the choices made today: Their message has always been clear, “Wherever you are, protect the natural resources for the world to come. When the elders are selfish, the next generation is doomed.” Listen to this message from the Laudato Youth and their Patron.
This powerful reminder highlights why environmental education and youth engagement are essential for a sustainable future.
Caring for Our Common Home
Through initiatives such as water-quality bio-monitoring, the Laudato Si’ Club at Nyakasura School is demonstrating how young people can actively care for our common home. Their commitment to protecting water sources shows that environmental stewardship begins with awareness, education, and collective action. With the empowerment of stakeholders such as the Kyaninga Forest Foundation, these students are not only learning about sustainability but also becoming the next generation of water warriors.
As Water Week continues, their message reaches far beyond their school community:
Let us join hands to care for our common home. Every action we take to protect water and natural resources helps build a healthier planet for future generations.
