Laudato Youth Initiative: Rebranding African Wisdom for Climate Action

Name: Laudato Youth Initiative: Rebranding African Wisdom for Climate Action
Start: 2025-07-23T08:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-07-25T17:00:00+00:00
Location: Bethany Land Institute, Uganda

July 23 @ 8:00 am - July 25 @ 5:00 pm

2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical, Laudato Si’, a prophetic call to care for our common home. While progress has been made, much remains to be done to implement the encyclical’s bold vision of integral ecology. The Laudato Youth Initiative is equipping a new generation of African youth leaders by revitalizing African indigenous knowledge, wisdom traditions, and storytelling as transformative tools for ecological education and value transmission.

Our initiative bridges the intergenerational gap by bringing together youth and elders around a metaphorical fire to confront the urgent climate crisis. As our mentor, Br. Adolf, affirms, this mission weaves together faith-based values, African cultural heritage, and intergenerational dialogue to inspire climate leadership rooted in community and spirituality.

Aligned with our mission, the Laudato Youth Initiative will present a groundbreaking paper at the Laudato Si Africa Conference (LSAC 2025) . The conference will explore an African conceptual framework for understanding Laudato Si’, Catholic Social Teaching, and Ugandan environmental law, interpreted through indigenous wisdom.

Our presentation will highlight the Ubuntu philosophy a principle of unity, interdependence, and shared humanity embodied in our motto: “United for Climate Action.” Our unique contribution will focus on storytelling especially the wisdom of elders as a powerful tool for promoting ecological conversion, cultural resilience, and environmental justice under the conference theme

“Stories of Young African Voices Advocating for Ecological Conversion”

Conceptual Framework: What does ‘Integral Ecology’ mean within the African Worldview?

Presenters:

*Sarah Kirikumwino – Laudato Si Clubs President*

Augustine Bahemuka – Research Editor,

Laudato Youth Initiative

Sarah Kirikumwino – President, Laudato Si Club

Location: Bethany Land Institute, Uganda

Dates: July 23-25, 2025

Laudato Green Pilgrimages 2025: Pilgrims of Green Hope – A Jubilee Year Initiative

As part of the Laudato Si Africa Conference (LSAC 2025), the Bethany Land Institute, through its Sowing Hope Project, will host a 10-day Ecological Pilgrimage—a unique journey of spiritual reflection, environmental awareness, and cultural immersion. This transformative experience will take participants to Uganda’s most significant ecological and spiritual landmarks, including:

• Shrine of the Uganda Martyrs – Honoring faith, sacrifice, and spiritual heritage

• A Ugandan Game Park Visit – Celebrating biodiversity and wildlife conservation

• The Source of the Nile – Recognizing Uganda’s role in Africa’s natural ecosystems

Over the year we have involved in Green pilgrimages to deepen understanding of Uganda’s rich socio-cultural history and ecological importance, while engaging in hands-on environmental learning. This began with our Jubilee Year theme; “Pilgrims of Green Hope” that was launched in January 2025, for the jubilee year to blend faith-based climate action, youth empowerment, and African ecological spirituality. The activities involved include;

• Spiritual and ecological pilgrimages

• Visits to sustainable micro climates set ups; fruits of faith farm

• Climate advocacy trips to impacted areas like:

• Kasese (flood-prone region)

• Kitezi (landfill site and urban waste zone)

These experiences have inspired our grassroot climate actions, including:

• Community clean-ups

• Art for climate awareness

• Youth-led climate documentaries

Through the power of storytelling, the Laudato Youth Initiative encourages young people to document sustainability journeys and build narratives that inspire faith-based organizations, cultural leaders, and youth movements to take collective climate action.

Laudato Green Pilgrimages – Key Dates

• January 3: Green Pilgrimage to Queen Elizabeth National Park

(Exploring Uganda as the “Pearl of Africa” that must be preserved)

• January 8: Pilgrimage to Lake Saaka

(Sacred silence and ecological reflection)

• January 12: Pilgrimage to St. Adolf Holy Cross Parish

(Visiting the Reconciliation Gardens – a place for healing and unity)

• February 17: Youth Mentor Pilgrimage to Assisi

(Inspiration from St. Francis of Assisi, Patron of Ecology)

• February 17: Spiritual Pilgrimage to Blessed Carlo Maria Major Shrine

(For youth in media, storytelling, and digital environmental advocacy)

These Laudato Green Pilgrimages 2025 offer youth the opportunity to engage in Catholic environmental advocacy, strengthen intergenerational collaboration, and reimagine climate justice through the lens of faith, culture, and community.

We welcome partnerships to amplify our impact. If you are passionate about environmental stewardship and youth-led climate climate change mitigation, reach out to us at laudatoyouthinitiative@gmail.com. Together, let’s honor our African heritage, embrace the wisdom of our elders, and build a sustainable future grounded in faith and cultural resilience.

Details

Start:: July 23 @ 8:00 am
End:: July 25 @ 5:00 pm

Venue

: Bethany Land Institute, Uganda
: Uganda