On the 15^th of January 2024 the official launch of the AFM Eco-Ubuntu project took place at Lumko Institute in Boksburg South Africa. This workshop served as the official launch of the Salesian AFM (Southern African) Province’s response to the Pope’s encyclical called Laudato sỉ as well as the Salesian General Chapter’s call for Province’s to be green compliant before the year 2032.

Pope Francis in his encyclical inspired by the words of his namesake St Francis of Assisi “Laudato sỉ, mi Signore” (Praise be to you, my Lord) reminds us that the Earth is our “Common Home”. What is further shared in this message is that we as people should not be indifferent to what we do to the Earth, that we should stand united in its preservation and that there is an urgent need for a mind shift in society towards environmental conservation.

His words inspired a large part of the Salesian General Chapter 28 (GC28), to reflect on the state of the environment. One of the guidelines that was of key interest was number 8, “Accompanying the youth towards a sustainable future”. This guideline could be viewed as the foundation to the conceptualization behind the Eco-Ubuntu Project.

The Eco-Ubuntu Project’s main concept is the accompanying of the AFM youth in a mind shift towards being more aware and responsible of their impact on the environment. “Ubuntu” is a Nguni Bantu term for “humanity” and Eco is a shortened term for ecology that deals with the relationship of creatures with their environment. These are the concepts that underpin the “Eco-Ubuntu” project in the hope that after 3 years it will create “Green Centres” that empower and strengthen local communities in Southern Africa for the improvement of environmental and climate protection.

The project is meant to impact 15,000 beneficiaries across 3 countries, South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini. Within these countries the focus is mainly on 7 communities, Ennerdale, Cape Town, Delft, Maseru, Maputsoe, Manzini and Malkerns. The project has 5 key pillars that are renewable energy, water access, waste management, hydroponics, and sustainable cultivation. We believe that the project will achieve success in these pillars through capacity development initiatives, training of community members, green investment in community sites and community awareness campaigns.

Capacity development will happen in the way that programmes are developed for each of the pillars. Facilitators identified in the 7 communities will undergo training in these programmes that are aimed at youth to be able to empower them to be green citizens. A green life skills manual has been produced to assist facilitators in imparting green life skills to the youth. These community sites will also be physically equipped to run these programmes, this means the installation of borehole systems, investment in sustainable gardens, etc. Once equipped the onus is on facilitators to continue training youth in green skills that will hopefully translate into the youth’s adoption of green livelihoods which will eventually benefit local communities.

The project has developed rapidly in the past 3 months (January – March 2024):

1. Water access pillar: 3 boreholes are presently in construction in eSwatini and 1 borehole in Lesotho has been completed.
2. Sustainable cultivation pillar: all the training has taken place, and training material has been developed – now investment into the community sites is under way.
3. Hydroponics pillar: all training has taken place, and investment in the community sites has been made – now production has started at 2 of the sites and will soon start at the remaining 2.
4. Renewable energy pillar: all training has been completed and training material developed. Enrollments into the programme have been done for both sites, what is left in the implementation stage is the development of the two solar workshops.
5. Waste management pillar: a waste management manual has been identified, and there are plans to equip 2 of the sites with material recycling centres (MRCs)

The application for project funds was through Don Bosco Mondo, a German procurer that coordinates the disbursement of funds primarily received from the German government (BMZ). The SPDO are the main executors of the project in Southern Africa and have constantly been engaging with local communities to ensure alignment with project aims. The AFM is very hopeful that the project will have a lasting impact on the communities and there is a strong belief that communities will be more aware and empowered. This will ensure that their impact on their local environment is one that is positive and leaves a good legacy for future generations.