Salesian camp fosters environmental responsibility

(MissionNewswire) Salesian sisters, staff and student leaders from Mary Help of Christians Vocational Education Training Center, located in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, held the Laudato Si’ Camp 2024 in April. The two-day camp had the theme, “Laudato Si’ dreamers for a better world.” It taught environmental awareness, fostering a sense of responsibility and empowering participants to become agents of positive change in their communities.

The camp’s focus came from Pope Francis’ 2020 Laudato Si’, which had as its theme “Good Christians and Upright Citizens.” Pope Francis underlined the importance of education and training to help youth foster environmental responsibility.

More than 200 participants from schools and Catholic parishes came together for the camp. There were presentations by student leaders on the principles of the 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize, sustain) and green skills. These presentations equipped the campers with knowledge and strategies to promote cleanliness and environmental sustainability.

A Salesian sister explained, “After the presentation, this was then put into practice in cleaning, organizing, and caring for the environment in different schools. The participants demonstrated exceptional teamwork and dedication, effectively sorting out trash for recycling and leaving a positive impact on the school environments they visited.”

Papua New Guinea has a population of approximately 7.5 million people. It is a resource-rich country with oil, gas and gold reserves as well as fertile land capable of producing high crop yields. Despite this, an estimated 40% of Papua New Guineans live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day, according to the World Bank.

Close to 50% of adults are illiterate and 25% of children are unable to attend school in Papua New Guinea. Part of the problem with getting to school, work and hospitals has to do with the country’s infrastructure. In rural areas, where nearly 88% of the population resides, there are few roads or means of transportation to get to schools or places of employment.

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Photo courtesy of Don Bosco Green Alliance

Don Bosco Green Alliance – Laudato Si’ dreamers for a better world

Salesian Missions – Papua New Guinea

World Bank – Papua New Guinea Poverty