PRESENTATION FOR AGRICULTURE SUMMIT JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 13 13 – 16 J JANUA UARY Y 2019 TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINBILITY IN THE ZIMBABWE EPISCOPAL AREA Mrs. Tendai Rebecca Gurupira Zimbabwe Episcopal Area Ministry with Women, Children & Youth Coordinator
SALUTATIONS • The Agriculture Summit leaders and all Good Earth Keepers. I am humbled to share with you today the work I am doing in Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability in The Zimbabwe Episcopal Area. • What follows in these presentations are practical work happening in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church.
INTRODUCTION • My journey started with a training by the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI). Bible Reference: Genesis 1 vs 26 – 30/ Genesis 2 vs 15. From that time I have never looked back. • What follows in these presentations are practical work happening in the Zimbabwe Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church.
Scope of Presentation • My presentation is mainly going to be pictorial to show evidence of what we are doing . • We are doing programs on Tree planting, Waste Management , ,Water and Electricity Management, Awareness on avoiding veld fires and Nutrition and Organic Gardening where people are taught to use natural resources in gardening, as well as ways to avoid soil erosion in farming . • We make use of songs e.g. ‘We must not throw litter everywhere’. • My Bishop, Pastors and church members are being involved in different ways to be Good Earth keepers.
PROJECT SUCCESS STORIES • The first project I did was to source 2 000 seedling trees from Nyaradzo Funeral Company (Friends of the Environment). • My Bishop was the first to plant a tree and all the other Pastors, Delegates and Observers were given seedling trees to plant at their homes after the awareness at the Annual Conferences. • The Friends of the Environment give seedling trees to bereaved families as a way to replace trees used in making coffins and caskets so they value trees.
Tree Planting Nyaradzo Funeral Company (Friends of the Environment) hands over a tree to the Bishop
From Theory to Practice Rebecca demonstrating how to plant the trees.
DS. Rev ev. Bopani ni plantin nting g her r tr tree at th t the Co Conference rence
• Rebe becca a de demo mons nstratin trating g tr tree e pl plan anti ting ng at at a a Mu Musli lim m Sc Scho hool. l. • Sh She is is workin king g wit ith h oth ther r fai aith th le lead aders be besid ides s Uni nited ted Meth thodi odist t Chu hurch ch.
Organic Gardening • Women were re tr trained ed to do organic nic gardening ning at t Fambidza idzanai nai Perm rmacultu ulture. re. • Th There re are re a l a lot t of a f advan vantages ages in th this s fa farm rming. ng. e e.g. g. You ca can produce e you your r own manure re and th the ve vegetables bles are re healt lthy.
Organic Gardening – Women in the Trenches
Women were trained to make pesticides using herbs.
Waste Management Awareness • Poor r wa waste te manageme ment nt is among th the major or envi vironm nment ental al ch challe llenges nges th the nati tion n of Zi f Zimba babwe bwe is facin fa ing. g. • Earth th keepers have ave been tr trained. ed.
Waste Management Awareness programs are being done at Revivals.
COMMUNITY CLEAN UP CAMPAIGN Our ur chu hurch h ha has a g a gre reat at role le to pl play in he ay in help lpin ing our ur coun untr try y come me out ut of th this is env nvir ironme nment ntal al eye eye- sore re. .
Em Emma manu nuel, l, th the son n of R Rev ev. Ma Maforo lead le adin ing th the cle lean an- up up c cam ampa paig ign. n.
A lot of clean up campaigns are taking place. The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) helps by providing some of the resources.
As a Church we are saying “Zero Tolerance to litter – It is everyone’s responsibility”.
The 4 R’s approach should be used .
Corporates Supporting the Green Initiatives
Women are trained on How to Make the WONDER BAG
Wom omen en wer ere e als lso o taugh ght t how ow to o prev revent ent ve veld ld fir ire e by by cr crea eating ting fir ire e gu guid ides. es.
REFLECTIONS • I usually pause these questions: • ‘ Why should I as a person of faith be concerned about environmental issues ’? • How does climate change affect us, our health, water, agriculture, biodiversity? • Whose issue is climate change? • What can I as a person of faith do about it? The good answers will lead us to be good earth keepers.
CONCLUSION • Besides spreading the word, the churches in Zimbabwe are doing great things in taking care of the environment e.g. filling potholes, litter picking, providing bins and use own trucks to carry rubbish. • Let’s continue to be Good Earth Keepers, we were entrusted by God to be given the power to take care of his beautiful earth.
Thank you By Mrs Tendai Rebecca Gurupira Ministry with Women , Children and Youth Coordinator (Zimbabwe Episcopal Area)
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