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FLEAT

The FLEAT 1 group at a training on water scarcity in southern Africa, in Harare, Zimbabwe, 2015.

As a multi-faith environmental organisation that believes caring for the community of life on Earth is our shared responsibility, we have designed a faith leader training programme (FLEAT) to respond to the stresses that communities are facing. The FLEAT programme includes training, learning, and follow-up with faith leaders who are selected for their interest and desire to develop an eco-faith approach with their faith communities. The programme strives to enhance the capacity of faith leaders to engage with their communities in responding to difficult situations brought about by environmental degradation and climate change, and to develop advocacy tools for eco-justice. In Southern Africa — a region affected by a dramatically variable climate — problems associated with resource availability are being exacerbated by climate change, and the poor and vulnerable are hit hardest. Communities are compelled to embrace new ideas and ways of living in order to cope with new extreme weather and its consequences. We found that when different faiths come together to address common challenges, they are able, through interaction and partnerships, to work effectively towards co-creating greater climate resilience.

The FLEAT 2 group at their introductory training in Johannesburg, South Africa, 2017.

Leaders of faith have a special platform from which to speak out against socio-ecological and socio-economic injustices, particularly those facing Africa. Through advocacy training, FLEAT aims to build a network of change agents of faith across Southern Africa who are positioned to effect positive changes in their communities. The FLEAT programme cultivates a space of mutual respect, where different ways of doing things are understood to be opportunities for learning. SAFCEI has trained 79 faith leaders from different faith groups that include Muslim, Christian (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and Catholic), and Quaker, and the represented countries are Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi, Angola, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda and Mozambique

Leaders of faith are engaged in the following:

Local actions in faith communities and ways of living that restore – rather than destroy – nature and the human community, resulting in greater biodiversity and healthier ecosystems; Challenging governments by reminding them to act from principles and values that protect Earth’s living systems, including human society, as well as encouraging governments to support policies that will help to create climate resilience; Sharing stories of hope with other faith communities to inspire them to take similar actions and continue sharing. Our vision is that an empowered civil society, through education and advocacy of faith leaders, will be able to hold governments to account, and to create a sustainable future, which prioritises affordable energy for all.

FLEAT highlights

  • Zambia: 150 community members trained in organic farming.
  • Zimbabwe: Environment day held in 5 schools with 180 multi-faith learners, resulting in the formation of environmental clubs, tree planting, and energy and water saving at schools.
  • Kenya: 70 people involved in a coastal clean-up for World Wildlife Day; FLEAT members ran a schools programme of talks on protecting the environment; CYNESA organised a Green Room at a UN Conference in Kenya.
  • Tanzania: 40 additional faith leaders were educated on climate change, and 1,200 congregants, including climate change projects with a Maasai community and workshops for youth on climate change and poverty.
  • Malawi: FLEAT faith leaders planted 132,000 trees through a joint Christian and Muslim initiative with congregations in Jali District.

Stories from faith leaders in action

Indigenous Foods in Malawi

Indigenous Foods in Malawi

There is an old adage that says “let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food”.  On Wednesday 7 June 2023, faith leaders from our Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) Malawi II group, demonstrated this by selecting indigenous foods in Malawi that...

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SAFCEI hosts FLEAT Malawi II in Lilongwe

SAFCEI hosts FLEAT Malawi II in Lilongwe

SAFCEI was back in Malawi from 6 to 8 June meeting with the second cohort of faith leaders at the Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) Malawi II in Lilongwe. The group of twenty-nine faith leaders representing the Muslim, Baha’i and Christian...

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fleat Member pROFILES

Energizing solutions in Uganda

Energizing solutions in Uganda

Our FLEAT member in Uganda, Saidah Nakaliisa, representing the Muslim community recently shared an update on the one-year Environmental Training project they concluded after receiving a SAFCEI small grant in 2022.  The one-year Environmental Training project was...

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FLEAT Zimbabwe II (Bulawayo)

FLEAT Zimbabwe II (Bulawayo)

SAFCEI hosted the first Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) workshop for 2023 in Zimbabwe, Bulawayo, from 21 to 23 March 2023.  The FLEAT Zimbabwe II group is the second group trained, following the first group in 2018, who has subsequently registered...

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FLEAT TANZANIA FAITH LEADER PROFILE

FLEAT TANZANIA FAITH LEADER PROFILE

Introducing Monica Daniel Nakei, a Roman Catholic faith leader from our FLEAT Tanzania group, who is passionate about agriculture and farming. Monica is an Assistant Lecturer at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) in Morogoro, Tanzania, and currently a PhD student...

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FLEAT TANZANIA FAITH LEADER PROFILE

FLEAT TANZANIA FAITH LEADER PROFILE

Introducing Newton Mwakabambo, a member of our Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) Tanzania who represents the Moravian faith.  Newton is a founder of EnviCulture (Kyela Envirocare and Cultural Tourism) an NGO in Tanzania, Mbeya region, Kyela...

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FLEAT MEMBERS FACEBOOK GROUP

We invite our FLEAT (Faith Leaders Environment Advocacy Training) Members to join our Facebook Group.

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