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Working together for Climate Justice

May 6, 2013 in Church, Climate Justice, Eco Justice, Latin America/Carribean, LWF, Youth, Youth Advocacy Training

Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Youth Message 2013

Theory and practice of advocacy, climate change and communication were the three main topics discussed over the 2013 Youth Training, prior to the LWF Conference of Leadership of the Latin American and Caribbean member churches.

Taking place from 13th to 15th of April in Managua, Nicaragua, the training was inspirational and empowering. While providing with a chance of visualizing the main issues that address the LAC youth, it was also a chance of identifying the ones that shall be advanced on. In a way of prioritizing such issues, each of the sixteen participants presented their ideas, and the three most voted were the ones elected as being the basis for the youth message and the Youth work in the region for the coming years.

Five of the participants (Nahún, Raquel, Rodolfo, Natalia and Fabián) volunteered to draft the message, which concise the learning during those days. Inputs and considerations were received from the whole group on a daily basis, a reason for why writing together such a strong letter was an exercise of team work and dialogue.

The message aims to communicate about the commitment of the young people to God, to the Church, to the care for the environment, and to the problems that affect the regions, while highlighting the contribution that the young people have to the regional and global community of churches. Take a look at what the Latin American and the Caribbean Youth have to say!

Link to the message in English

Enlace web con el mensaje en español

Lien ver le message en français

Youth at the 2013 LAC Conference of Leadership

 

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¡Esto se pone bueno! — Youth Advocacy Training, Day 2

April 17, 2013 in Church, Climate Justice, Eco Justice, Environment, Latin America/Carribean, Youth Advocacy Training, Youth participation

For the leadership conference (COL) of Latin America and the Carribean, the 15 Lutheran youth delegates will take control of the live blogging, speaking about their experiences and what they have learned during the training that they will take back to their home churches.  The first youth entry is from Luis Velázquez, youth representative of the Mexican Lutheran Church.

Segundo día de capacitación en Managua!  Y el ambiente es cada vez más unido e interesante entre los jóvenes, el calor húmedo no interfiere en la relación de fraternidad que hemos adquirido, y parece que los días siguientes llegaremos a más acuerdos y a más entendiendo entre las congregaciones de los demás países de américa latina. ¡Esto se pone bueno! al fin la mayoría de los jóvenes líderes estamos reunidos y las expectativas aumentan. Al principio no tenía claro muchas cosas sobre el rol de la FLM pero gracias a Patricia Cuyatti mis preguntas han sido respuestas sobre  datos de la federación, ella desempeña un papel muy bueno y su explicación ha sido excelente.

El equipo estudia los pros y los contras de los redes sociales./ Chelsea Macek

Al llegar a la reunión no tenía idea de cómo iba a compartir mis experiencias de una manera efectiva con mi congregación en México, porque ellos deben saber sobre esta experiencia y lo que me está dejando, así que llego el tema de mapeo de redes, me calló como anillo al dedo. Empezamos a ser capacitados sobre maneras geniales de compartir mis anécdotas y mi información, impaciente yo de publicar. Las redes de jóvenes  y en américa latina ya están desarrolladas en las redes sociales y en blogs en internet, parece ya que mi rol de joven líder de mi congregación tiene que ser más efectiva, me he visto algo rezagado.

Varias ideas llegan a mi mente y los proyectos compartidos por los demás en temas de redes han hecho que motive mi participación en este asunto, esto es un nuevo comienzo y espero una nueva incidencia en mi desempeño como líder, y es así como pienso todos tenemos que estar motivados a diario para servir a Dios.

Cambiando de tema, ese mismo día en la tarde empezamos a planear nuestro rol como jóvenes en la COL, nuestro mensaje como generación con ideas frescas y revolucionarias tienen que ser escuchadas en este congreso, todo enfocado con una visión contra el cambio climático, lleno de ideas de todos nosotros, algo que tiene que ser atendido fuertemente antes de lamentarnos fuera de tiempo.

Una delegada vota para los temas del mensaje de la generación nueva./ Chelsea Macek

En fin, tanto trabajo motivador, al final del día nos lleva a tener una noche ofrecida por la cultura anfitriona, Nicaragua nos ofreció una cena espectacular, parecía que estaba en México, había demasiada comida basada en los mismos elementos de mi cultura, ¡maíz!

México, parece que no te extraño por ahora, la estoy pasando muy bien con gente tan cálida y maravillosa, y con música en vivo muy buena, solo me pone nostálgico el presentar mi país en la exposición de las culturas presentes, pero esto es provechoso, Dios nos ha reunido en un excelente momento y en una excelente oportunidad para crecer como comunidad regional… al final de todo esto, termino aplicando mis conocimientos adquiridos, ¡compartiendo mi experiencia en un blog por primera vez! esto es el comienzo de compartir lo que acontece en este rincón del mundo donde la palabra de Dios está presente, Latinoamérica unida es una experiencia inigualable.

by Jose Luis Velázquez Orozco, representante juvenil de la Iglesia Luterana Mexicana.

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“Start to Commit”– Youth Advocacy Training 2013, Day 1

April 15, 2013 in Climate Justice, Eco Justice, Latin America/Carribean, LWF together - the earth needs you, Youth, Youth Advocacy Training, Youth participation

The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.  –Genesis 2:15

As the early morning Nicaraguan sun set the chapel aglow, the highly anticipated 2013 Youth Advocacy Training officially began with a biblical reflection, prayer, and joyous singing.  Maura Ramos of El Salvador led the worship, focusing on Ecclesiastes 11:9-10, sharing that although there can be many distractions in life, youth should give their time to serve God, dedicating their lives to the church.

Youth leaders enjoying getting to know each other on their speed dates./ By Chelsea Macek

Following the devotional time, Caroline Richter, secretary for LWF Youth, expressed her excitement to be meeting with the Latin American youth leaders and stressed how important the conference is to share and exchange ideas and advice, in person and heart to heart, amongst the youth.  Caroline later led some highly entertaining icebreaker games, including a slightly-adapted speed dating session, so that the participants could open up and get to know one another.

Fabian Bello of Columbia facilitated the presenting of youth climate projects.  Leaders spoke of their local involvement in the fight against climate change, explaining how they help their home congregations learn more about the environment and how to protect it.  Some of the projects were church-wide recycling units, emergency management training for natural disasters, selling recycled crafts, and developing a mobile recycling business, amongst others.  “What we are doing is one small step to great change,” said Mexican youth leader Luis Velázquez, “We start with a small seed, like a mustard seed… We are all capable and have the right attitude to help change happen, to really see a difference made in our communities.”

“Why should the church engage in addressing this issue of climate change when there is poverty, so much crime, and injustice all around us?  Shouldn’t we pay more attention to that?  The world has to end one day and we all have to die too.  Isn’t this a way of distracting us from engaging in real ministry?” – citizen of Jamaica, during a climate change panel

Theology student Danielle Dokman of Suriname presented a theological reflection on climate change from a Caribbean perspective.  Even as climate change leads to new disease, disappearing forests and beaches, and exacerbating poverty, it was discussed that it is difficult to get many people, especially in third world countries, to take notice of climate change when they have an unclear future, struggling to survive, and do not see it as a top priority.  As Lutheran Christians, it is important to define the relationship between the Creator and his creation (humanity, animals, and plants) using the Bible, oral tradition, and our own experiences.  One must remember that we are co-partners with God in our garden which is the world today.

Nahún Stütz of Argentina and Raquel Kleber of Brazil presented “Climate Change—A Challenge to Our Churches”, the international report developed after they and seven other delegates attended the COP18 as representatives of the Lutheran World Federation.  Youth leaders discussed the document in small groups and presented their local and global understanding and ideas to the conference participants.  The report is held in utmost importance as a tool in having the youth’s voice heard as it will be presented to the LWF council in June of 2013.

Pastor Angel Furlan of Argentina spoke on the methodologies of advocacy and how to implement them in one’s community, focusing on the humanity and vulnerability of the world.  Youth leaders developed and discussed their own personal definitions for advocacy.

Pastor Angel Furlan speaks on methodologies of advocacy./ By Chelsea Macek

“There is so much potential here,” stated Pastor Angel, “I see lots of enthusiasm in these youth… a thirst to work.  They are already making changes.  I look at their faces and see the people that have to lead us forward.  The future is already in their hands.”

 

by Chelsea Macek, communications at the LAC Youth & Leadership Conference 2013

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Youth Advocacy Training on Climate Justice

April 8, 2013 in Church, Climate Justice, Eco Justice, Latin America/Carribean, Youth Advocacy Training, Youth participation

Practical Climate Protection: The Sapiranga youth group enjoys a refreshing and ecological glass of freshly squeezed orange juice made from home-grown fruit.

Start to commit for Climate Justice

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  –Genesis 1:26

Youth delegates from the Latin American and Carribean Lutheran Member churches will join from April 13 to noon of April 15 in Managua/Nicaragua.  They will discuss Climate justice activities in their churches, report from UN meetings in Rio+20 and COP 18 in Doha and network for mutual support. It’s time to start to commit!

They will also discuss the LWF Youths Report Climate change- a challenge to our churches that says:

“We believe that every member church in our communion has a critical stake in addressing climate change.”

LWF Youth Delegation marching for Climate Justice at the COP18 /by Sidney Traynham

Sneak preview: Contents of the Training

  1. Presentation of youth climate projects: young leaders who are involved in Climate Change projects present their experience and expertise to each other.
  2. Theological and practical perspective on Climate change:  learn about Climate Change issues and reflect the role of the churches in Climate Change advocacy.
  3. Methodologies of advocacy:learn about methodologies of advocacy, together with an advocacy expert.
  4. Mapping exercise on Youth networks: learn about virtual networking and creative ways to stay connected around the topic

 

 

LWF Youth Blog readers will be updated with Blogposts directly from the meeting.

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