Members of the Ignatian Youth Network, the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa (CYNESA) Zimbabwe, and Silveira House on Saturday collaborated to plant trees, pick litter and establish gardens at Silveira House and Chichester House in Chishawasha.
The environmental action, held under the theme “Living Waters, Rivers of Justice, Streams of Hope,” brought together young people from Catholic youth movements in a prayerful and practical demonstration of ecological stewardship.
The activity is part of the global observance of the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of ecology, and responds directly to one of the Society of Jesus’ Universal Apostolic Preferences: Caring for Our Common Home in this season of creation.
Speaking during the program, Rumbidzai from CYNESA Zimbabwe said the network was formed to mobilize young Catholics across the continent to take collective responsibility for the environment through three pillars: program implementation, awareness raising, and governance participation.
She challenged young people to see environmental care as an integral part of their faith and future leadership.
“We are creating opportunities for young people at a global level. I am hoping that the faces I am seeing here will one day be leaders in the future,” she said.
Rumbidzai noted that worship and environmental protection cannot be separated. Drawing from Catholic Social Teaching, she reminded the youth that humanity and nature are intertwined.
“We are co-creators. We cannot separate humanity from nature, we must live in harmony. We worship through creation,” she said.
She contextualized this year’s theme, “Let living water flow,” warning of the visible consequences of environmental degradation in Zimbabwe.
“Where there is dryness, where there is no water, there is no life. We are seeing no more fish in lakes, no more recreational purposes. Littering is affecting drainage systems, contaminating water sources,” she said.
“Our role is to act. Before blaming authorities, we need to play our part – plant trees,” she added.
The day’s activities saw youth planting trees around Silveira House, collecting litter along drainage channels, and working in the community garden at Chichester House.
The symbolic act of planting was linked to Christian unity. National Movement of Catholic Students (NMCS) Vice President Ronald Chiduri said the growing trees should mirror the growth of unity among Christians.
“As we plant these trees, we are hoping that as they grow, Christians also grows stronger in unity as the roots of this tree,” Chiduri said.
Delivering the closing reflection in his homily, SAP Youth Delegate Fr. Eric Chikanya SJ called on young people to become living symbols of ecological conversion, in line with Pope Francis’ encyclicals Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum.
“Let your hearts flow with living waters and be rivers of justice. They should be streams of hope for the environment,” Fr. Chikanya said. “Do not litter, adhere to Laudato Si and Laudate Deum.”
He urged the youth to move beyond awareness to consistent action, stressing that the Ignatian call to be contemplatives in action demands practical care for creation.
Fr. Chikanya linked the theme to the current water crisis facing many communities in Harare and across Zimbabwe, where siltation, deforestation, and poor waste management have affected water quality and availability.
The collaboration between Silveira House – a Jesuit centre for development, training and social justice – and youth networks underscores the Society of Jesus’ commitment to forming young people as agents of reconciliation and environmental justice.
Silveira House has in recent months intensified its youth formation programs focusing on integral ecology, agroecology, and civic participation, in response to growing concerns over climate change impacts on vulnerable communities.
For many of the young participants, the activity was their first time engaging in structured ecological action as an expression of faith.
The youth vowed to continue monitoring the planted trees and maintaining clean surroundings in their own communities.
Organisers say they hope to replicate the model in other parishes and Jesuit institutions across Zimbabwe as part of the ongoing Jubilee celebrations not only during the season of creation.
By Tadiwa Madava
English