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:
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
Apply to join the Skills Building and Environmental Advocacy Programme
SAFCEI and The Green Connection invites faith leaders from faith communities to participate in a 12-month skills building and advocacy programme on environmental and social justice as part of accelerating South Africa’s just transition from fossil fuels use to...
FLEAT: Tree planting in Malawi and launch of Churches National Tree Planting Day
Mthetho Lungu, a member of our Regional FLEAT (Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training) 2 group shares his updates on tree planting activities in Malawi. "On 11th February 2018, representing the Malawi Council of Churches (MCC) I successfully coordinated delivery...
FLEAT Malawi follow up
The FLEAT (Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training) Malawi group met online for a follow-up workshop from 24-26 August 2021. In the first workshop, held in March this year, a six-month activity plan was developed by the group which they provided feedback on...
SAFCEI will be hosting a NEW online Namibia Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT), 16 to 18 November 2021
SAFCEI will be hosting a NEW online Namibia Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) from 16 to 18 November 2021. We are calling for applications from people of faith in Namibia, particularly those in a leadership position, to join us in this learning...
SAFCEI hosts online eco-footprinting workshop series
SAFCEI held an online eco-footprinting workshop series during July and August 2021 on the topics of energy, water, and waste. What was initially planned to be a one-day eco-footprinting webinar, turned out to be a four-week series of sharing knowledge and action, from...
Apply now to join our online Regional women’s Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training – 31 August to 2 September 2021
FLEAT-application-form-regional women-2021
fleat Member pROFILES
FLEAT member feature: Jackline Wananda
My little garden Farming in small spaces In this week's Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) feature story, we introduce Ms. Jackline Rebecca Wananda, a member of FLEAT Uganda who represents her Christian Community. Jackline is the founder of FLOW...
FLEAT member feature: Sebia Kwaramba
In this week's Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) feature story, we look at the work of Mrs. Sebia Kwaramba, a member of our FLEAT Zimbabwe group who represents a number of organisations including the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and the Methodist...
FLEAT member feature: Dominic Amon Nyasulu
In this week's Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) feature story, we look at the work of Dominic Amon Nyasulu from Malawi, who is a member of the FLEAT 2 regional representing the Catholic faith. Dominic Amon Nyasulu is the Programmes Manager for the...
FLEAT member feature: Kelly Ngeti
In this week's Faith Leader Environmental Advocacy Training (FLEAT) feature story, we look at the work of Kelly Mwakanah Ngeti from Mombasa, Kenya, who has been a member of the FLEAT 1 regional group since 2015. From the organization Center for Sustainable Development...
FLEAT member feature: Lisa Johnstone
Our story this week comes from Lisa Johnstone. Lisa is a FLEAT South African member and represents the Northfield Methodist Church in Benoni. She shares with us some of the activities the Mission and Outreach department have been up to recently. “As you can imagine,...
FLEAT member feature: Ndivile Mokoena
Ms Ndivile Mokoena has been a member of the first Faith Leader Environment Advocacy Training (FLEAT 1) group since 2014. She is based in Gauteng and represents the Catholic faith as well as Gender CC – Woman for Climate Justice. Ndivile shares what she has been up to...
FLEAT MEMBERS FACEBOOK GROUP
We invite our FLEAT (Faith Leaders Environment Advocacy Training) Members to join our Facebook Group.
