Konzalendo Laudato Si Group has been growing steadily since its beginnings in 2023. On Sunday 28th June one of their members received his certificate as Laudato Si Animator from the Global LS Movement at the parish Eucharistic Celebration.
Mr. A.E. Sonjera joined the parish group last year and responded to the invitation to do the Animators Course organized by the Global movement this year. He completed the online training, including his seed project, and was awarded his certificate. As part of the parish celebration, he was commissioned as Parish Animator. Fr. Mike Useni, Parish Priest was happy to announce that Mbusa Wa’bwino Parish is the first parish in Chikwawa Diocese with a Laudato Si Group and a trained animator from among the parishioners.
Mr. Sonjera’s seed project had to do with the work being done within three local villages and the parish, which he has been spear-heading. Under the auspices of the Laudato Si Group, the three villages have designated areas as bee farming locations and have committed to plant indigenous trees and preserve or return the areas to forestry. We provided some indigenous seedlings for planting and the groups have all begun to develop their own nurseries for continued planting. We sourced seeds from the Regional Forestry Research Centre in Zomba and each area will receive a variety of seeds to plant. We hope that the variety of trees will ensure forage for bees throughout the year when the trees develop.
Konzalendo is subject to extreme weather events because of climate change owing to the heavy deforestation in the area. Providing alternative means of income for local farmers is essential in order to encourage them to change their farming practices to preserve and return areas to forestry. We hope this project may be a small step in encouraging this change.
Sr. Mairéad Ní Chuirc
