Apply now to join our Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training in Malawi - 8th & 9th December 2020

2 November 2020

Dear friends,

SAFCEI, the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute, is a faith-based environmental organisation comprised of people of many faiths who are united in diversity through a common commitment to cherish living earth and to tackle issues of environmental injustice across the Southern and East African region. Through collaboration, networking, research and action, SAFCEI seeks to raise environmental awareness, engage in formulating policy and ethical guidelines and encourage environmental responsibility and action.

SAFCEI is calling on people of faith in Malawi, particularly those in a position of leadership, who want to be actively involved in environmental advocacy within their own community and beyond.  The Southern African Faith Community Environment Institute (SAFCEI) believes that people of faith have a moral imperative to speak against the socio-ecological injustices that face Africa’s peoples and our surrounding environment. In witnessing for the earth, SAFCEI believes that faith leadership at local level can share our local experiences, network with each other, and learn from each other how best to advocate for the change we want to see. We are coordinating a faith leadership advocacy programme that provides a platform for common eco-justice action across the region (see http://safcei.org/what-we-do/fleat/  for more information about the previous FLEAT). Please note that this programme will be held online for the first initial meeting due to COVID 19 restrictions.

For SAFCEI, advocacy involves:

• Local actions at faith community level that demonstrate a way of living that restores rather than destroys nature and human community.
• Sharing stories of hope with other faith communities to inspire them to take similar actions and share their stories.

If you have time to dedicate to advocacy work and a passion for addressing environmental injustice, please complete the application form and your own letter of motivation, together with a letter of support/recommendation from your faith leader and send it to SAFCEI.

Please note that this introduction meeting will be held in-person in Malawi on 8th & 9th December 2020 from 9:30 am – 4:30 pm  with physical distancing in place.

. If selected to be part of this programme, data will be provided.

This workshop will involve a full two-day process of learning, sharing and designing an advocacy training programme collectively, with input from various advocacy specialists. Issues of eco-justice, energy, food, water, land and waste management will be on the agenda. Practical ethical eco-action will be part of the programme. Although the training will take place online and you will be asked to report back about the practical application of the training in your environment. Refer to the video to see what you can expect.

Participants are invited to take experiences from the workshops and apply them in their faith communities between training sessions.  Participants are expected to commit to working together on advocacy actions both in their own countries and in the SADC region.  If you are selected, you will be expected to attend the follow up workshop within 6 months’ time.

If you would like to apply, please send your application form with supporting documents to Zainab at zainab@safcei.org.za by 1st December 2020 at 12pm.

Disclaimer: safety and health will be a priority. All participants will be required to wear masks, wash and sanitize their hands, and be physically distant at all times.

Yours sincerely,

Zainab Adams

FLEAT Coordinator