This time I am going to introduce you my friend Evariste Mamadou, a 23 year-old young man from Central African Republic. After graduating from high school, he has been working for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Central African Republic (ELCCAR). His major duty is to audit the projects implemented by ELCCAR.

Evariste told me that the concept of climate change has not been very well developed in his country. ‘ The situation in my home context is that, most people do not have any information or idea about climate change. They are cutting down tress, putting fire on the grass without knowing that such behaviours will contribute to climate change.’

Evariste was reflecting on 'Sabbath of Land' in relations to Climate Change during a bible study.

Evariste said since 3 years ago, the average annual rainfall has been decreasing. ‘Our people didn’t realize it could be a consequence of climate change and they are parts of those who are contributing to the problem. ‘

After attending the Pre-Council Youth Workshop, Evariste knew a lot more about climate change and the ways we should do to fight it. The first step he will do is to educate the members in his church. ‘I will cooperate with the leaders of each congregation of my church. They will then educate their parishes what is climate change and what we can do about it’.

 As youth leader in his church, Evariste said he will lead sessions about climate change in young christians’ fellowshop on every Monday and Saturday. With limited access to the internet, Evariste is also going to invite those youths who can afford to go to internet cafe to gather latest information about climate change and then educate people round them.

Here is Evariste’s vision: ‘ I wish that at least 50% of the people in my church will be aware of the problem within 2 years. Those families who are inspired could plant 10 trees as visible action to fight climate change.’

Past July 2nd 2008 , were rescued by the Colombian army 15 Colombian soldiers including the three Northamerican men and Ingrid Betancourt (ex candidate for Colombian Presidence), who were kidnapped some of them for 6 and 10 years.

This new it was for us a big surprise because, to be honest, we thought they were going to be kidnapped for even more time because  the FARC, which is the Colombian guerrilla, have been doing all kind of evil things, including narcotrafic, murders and tortures not only with soldiers and politicians but with common people, like peasants and even children, for so long, and they have never showed a real commitment with our government for peace. They have been involved in this war for almost 50 years.

These days we have been hearing many versions of what really happened with this rescue. The president´s version is that it was a militar intervention without using violence, Colombian Army deceived kidnappers. Some other say that everyhting was planned already between guerrilla and government. And even that the guerilla was paid for the releasing of these people.

Nevertheless, we as Colombian citizens are very happy, specially for the soldiers who were separated from their families in such a violent way, leaving their families and their life as soldiers.

I can see that many people pays more atention to the most known people but not to common people, so I think it is very important to pray for everyone not only politicians or famous people only, because everybody deserves to be free, no matter their status.

As Christians we  believe that God has the power to convince people from their mistakes when they are acting against life and  make things go for good to his believers.

When soldiers were able to speak to the media yesterday, said they never lost the faith in God and certainly God never failed them. And in the same way I and many other brother and sisters around the world not only Colombians continue praying for the ones who still living in captivity.

I guess you have already read about the youth message on climate change - http://lwfyouth.org/2008/06/28/a-call-to-engage-climate-change/ - which was presented in the LWF Council Meeting during the opening hearing of climate change.

In the coming days, I am going to share with you all the stories I have heard from the participants of the Pre-Council Youth Workshop.  Since there are too many stories, they will come one by one in a series.

Let’s begin with our youngest participant of the workshop - Hanitriniaina Nathalie Rahelimalala (We call her Nathalie), 19, a young lady from Malagasy Lutheran Church.

Nathalie is a university student studying Marketing and Banking. She lives with her parents and younger brother in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagarscar.

‘The situation in my country is that people do not know much about climate change. Some of them burn trees in order to create farmland or mistakenly think that it would make the land fertile. They don’t know it will contribute to climate change’, said Nathalie.

Nathalie has set 2 goals for herself for the next half of this year.

 (1) Write a song carrying message about climate change.

 (2) Plant Trees with her classmates in a Lutheran school where she learns English.

Nathalie, the youngest participant from Malagasy Lutheran Church, performed a funny move during an activity in the Pre Council Youth Workshop, held in Cannossa Spirtuality Center in the countryside of Arusha.

She and her friends in a youth group have been working on a Music CD Album for some time.  Now, Nathalie’s plan is to add a song carrying the message about climate change. ’We gonna to promote this song to the radio and TV, and we’ll organize a free music show…..so that people will know about the causes and solutions of climate change’. 

She is optimistic that using music is an effective way to spread the message on climate change ’ Malagasy people just like singing and listening to Music. I mean, they like it very much!’  

Apart from the song (which all of us in the Pre-Council Workshop have been looking forward to listening to. Perhaps we can upload it here when it is done), Nathalie said she is going to organize a youth group to plant trees. ‘We have a Lutheran school in Antananarivo. Many students take courses like English and Computer Studies there. I am going to organize a group in my English Club to plant trees in the campus’.

I think it is so far for today. The next story will bring you to Central African Republic- stories about a 23 year old young man, Evariste Mamadou.

Yesterday, 17 young people stood in front of the LWF Council in Arusha and read the following message:

“A household in a remote village outside of Arusha in Olokii Parish enjoys electric lights provided by a solar panel, allowing them to finish schoolwork and household chores after dark.  A woman cares for her cow, ensuring her family nourishment through its milk and economic security through selling its calves.  A building nears completion, ready to house a vocational training program for young women and men to learn relevant trades such as carpentry and masonry.  A woman, her son, and three grandsons express gratitude for a secure home with enough room for all.  A congregation warmly welcomes a diverse group of young people from the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Germany, Hong Kong, Lithuania, Madagascar, South Africa, Tanzania, the United States of America and Zambia, offering hospitality through delicious meals, inspiration through joyous worship of our Lord and a tour of incredible diaconal work throughout the area through microcredit loans, a dairy cattle project, a homebuilding program, and a vocational training center.

Youths from LWF member churches were presenting the Youth Message during the opening hearing on climate change in LWF Council Meeting

These were some of the experiences enjoyed by young council members and stewards on an exposure trip during their gathering from 19-23 June 2008 at Canossa Spirituality Centre, Arusha, Tanzania.  The rest of our time was spent in prayer, Bible study, and discussion around climate change, the theme of the 2008 Council meeting.  Together, we contemplated God, creation, and our relationship with both.  We asked ourselves what climate change means for us as agents of God’s work.  God entrusted the care of creation to us, but the realities of droughts, floods and the other effects of climate change indicate that we have broken that trust.

The biblical witness is clear that God our creator loves the world so much that He gave his only begotten son to save it (John 3:16).  The effects of climate change are overwhelming and we need God’s help.  God’s Word convicts us for our inaction and the destruction we have caused in creation, and it also empowers us for action.

Each and everyone of us is called to care for God’s good creation.  We affirm the work of the LWF and a number of member churches to address the climate change crisis.  However, we urge the LWF and member churches to intensify their efforts to address it through education and action.  We hope that Lutheran Christians will take every opportunity to teach about the impacts of climate change and possibilities for managing it through any available forum: Sunday School, Confirmation classes, Youth seminars, and Christian education for adults.

We recognize that governments play a crucial role in mediating this crisis.  Governments around the world must take action to reduce greenhouse gases and mitigate the effects of climate change.  They need to implement strict and contextually-appropriate legislation for environmental conservation and preservation.  We are particularly concerned that one of the biggest contributors to the climate change crisis - the United States of America - has not agreed to reduce their emissions as outlined in the Kyoto Protocol.  They are irresponsibly contributing to consequences felt most deeply in vulnerable communities around the globe. 

We therefore recommend that the LWF Council affirm the following efforts and encourage member churches to:

-       advocate that their government adopt legislation to reduce greenhouse gases and increase the use of carbon-neutral energy sources

-       actively pursue carbon-neutral travel

-       conduct energy audits for church-owned property

-       install solar systems on church-owned buildings or utilize alternative energy sources

-       reduce consumption, reuse and recycle resources for church activities

-       plant trees locally for a visible action towards addressing climate change

We offer our deep thanksgiving for the hospitality of our hosts at the Canossa Spirituality Center and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, especially our host congregation in the Olokii parish and the Diocese of the Arusha Region.  We are grateful to the Lutheran World Federation and all who made it possible for us to gather, to share experiences, and to learn from one another about this important global issue that impacts us all.

List of participants:

Mr John Ambele - Tanzania

Ms Namsifu Aminiel - Tanzania

Rev Anza Amen Lema - Tanzania

Ms Nembris Geoffrey - Tanzania

Ms Francine Grace Yaimann - Central Africa Republic

Mr Parnet Evariste Mamadou - Central Africa Republic

Ms Hanitriniaina Nathalie Rahelimalala - Madagascar

Mr Hasiniaina Robelson Fabian Andriatiana - Madagascar

Rev Roger Schmidt - Germany (LWF Staff)

Mr Cheong Mun Chan - Hong Kong (LWF Staff)

Rev Rolita Machila - Zambia (LWF Staff - Theology and Studies)

Mr Thomas Jensch - Germany (Council Member)

Ms Sindisiwe Ndelu - South Arica (Council Member)

Mr Michel Ngoy Mulunda - Democratic Republic of Congo (Council Member)

Ms Milita Poskiene - Lithuania (Council Member)

Rev Abigail Zang Hoffman - USA (Council Member)

Rev Simone Sinn - Germany (LWF Staff - Theology and Studies)

How churches could be more relevant to youths in overcoming challenges in the job markets. Here are some suggestions given by our Youth Liaisons:

• Help communicating with members who are employers and young people who could possibly fill in the job vacancies.
• facilitate church members to fill in their corresponding professions or skills they possess, so when there is someone know a job suitable for another, they could simply tell communicate among themselves.
• Church could even set up a database to facilitate the above two suggestions.
• Church could open Youth Centers for teenagers (to aviod them joining unhealthy activities while unemployed).
• Pastors/social workers could work more closely with young people and accompany them to overcome the challenges in job searching.
• Set up small group or praying group for youth who are at the time of job searching, ie. graduation, in order to create a support group so that one will not feel lonely.

What would youths do when they are unemployed?

Thomas Cho, from Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hong Kong, listed some of the possibilities. They include go to internet cafe, just stay at home, go to karaoke bar or disco, hang out at the playground at night, play computer games……

There are also some examples of well-educated youths ‘choosing to be unemployed’. The reason is that the Hong Kong stock market was doing very well last years. Thomas said,’ many young people including some university students are very keen on speculating in the stock market.’ Some of them are a kind of addicted in making ‘easy’ money.

That’s parts of reality in Hong Kong, a relatively affluent city in Asia (of course, there are also many youths facing tremendous pressures hoping for a job ). But for many countries in Asia, the stories in general are quite different.

As told by one of our youth liaisons from Southeast Asia , ‘for some youth, once they graduate, the burden of helping the family is placed on their shoulders. Somtimes, they are seen as ‘Savior’ of their families to get them out the poverty stage…… thus, even thought they graduated for a certain profession, like teaching perhaps, the call to go abroad is hearkened to , as someone else, more probably as a domestic helper……’  

What have the biblical persons of Abraham and Hagar, Jacob and Rebekka, Joseph, Rut, Jesus and Mary in common? Right, they all were migrants. People who left their home country for a limted or forever to live and work elsewhere.

Migration is a contentious issue today. In many countries, people are hostile towards people who do not originate in the same country - even if the family of these persons live already for generations in the new country.

Today, Sydia Nduna from the World Council of Churches spoke about her work in the area of migration policy. We discussed in a group of interns in the Ecumenical Center - all migrants themselves. The discussion centered around how Christians and churches should approach migrants and resisting any tendencies to treat migrants differently from other human beings. Sydia introduced an interesting resource that can be very helpful in dealing with the reality of migration as Christians and as churches. The Churches’ Commission for Migrants in Europe (CCME) published a study called “Mapping Migration. Mapping Churches’ Responses”. It has two pages on every country in Europe, giving some general information and then describing the work of migrant churches in these countries. It is very helpful to understand the scope that migration already has.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madagascar is one the big Lutheran churches in Africa. It has more than three million members. I have just received a report by the Malagasy youth liaisons about the major youth activities in the church so far. Here is the report of Andoniaina HARINIRINA and Thomas RAMILIJAONA:

“This is to give you a short report on youth activities during these four past months.

As usual, before reaching the synods in provinces during the holidays , the bible camp of Madagascar, the only activity in the FKTLM which works directly with the three Departments in the Malagasy Lutheran churches ( Sundays schools, scouts, choirs ),organised a “LASY TSELATRA” means Flash Bible Camp, in Antananarivo.

From 16^th until 18^th, fifty children has camped with 20 National Bible Camp leaders in Tsarahonenana one of the Antananarivo’s Lutheran churches.

The camp was focus on the theme “JESUS IS OUR TEACHER”, Bible studies, arts and crafts, songs, games were the activities that the leaders did to pass this theme on to the children during these week-end.

Moreover, the youth in Antananarivo’s synod gathered in Miantso, part west of Antananarivo to celebrate their 7^th youth synods meeting from 26^th until 30^th of March 2008. It was leaded by the youth Lutheran secretary for Antananarivo’s synod Pastor Denis RAKOTOZAFY.

“Don’t neglect the spiritual gift that is in you”I Timothy 4:14 was the theme that Antananarivo’s committees chose for the celebration this year. Bible studies, Sports competition between the choirs in the district, choir’s songs and shows were the activities during these five days. The goals of the meeting are to improve youth’s faith, to build and hold the relationship between the youth in the synod.

Finally, the anniversary day of the youth Departement will be on the second week of June

This special day will be celebrated by all Malagasy young people from different places in Madagascar and even from abroad for those living in diaspora.Churches will organised some activities which it can be distinguished this time.”

Remembered that last month, Roger and I went to the presentation of the United Nation World Youth Report 2007. After attending the meeting , we thought it would be great to invite Lutheran youths in different regions to give their feedback on that. Thanks a lot for their support, the idea bears its first fruit.

Titled ‘ASIAN YOUTH in the Context of rapid GLOBALIZATION’, the first chapter of UN World Youth Report highlighted various challenges facing Asian Youth in the era of globalization. We focused on asking the challenges facing the Asian youths in the labour market and how churches could be more relevant to the unemployment issue. 

I think no one would disagree that young Asians are better prepared than ever before to enter the labour force, but many are unable to find a job. One of the explanations is, nowadays we are not only competing with the youths in our own country, but also our counterparts around the world.

We ask the youth liaisons to give us some clues on ‘what would youth usally do when they are unemployed in your home context?’

‘Go abroad!!!’, Rachel Basalong, youth liaisons from Lutheran Church in the Philippines, pointed out frankly. She also shared a very thoughtful conversation with her friend at one point:

‘This situation (going aboard to pursue a job not related to one’s own profession) really hit me when a friend of mine was preparing to go abroad and I jokingly asked if he could look for a job for me there. He looked at me disdainfully and said, ‘I would not go if I had a job here. You should be thankful you have (your job at home).’

The report revealed a fact about how desperate youth could be in searching a job - in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Youths are 5 times more likely than older workers to be unemployed. Employers discriminate young workers for various reasons like lack of experience needed in the workplace.

But the question is, how could young people gain experience if they are not given a chance? Many unemployed youths end up resort to migration to other countries.

Not mentioning the uncertainties and potential dangers as an alien in a foreign country, lack of family’s physical and emotional support is already a hardship to overcome. 

In the context of globalization, many young people desperately looking for a job at home but never got one, leaving their family and friends, heading to a foreign country to be an alien labour, without knowing when to go home…… ‘I would not go if I had a job here. You should be thankful you have…..’