Your 2024 Dream for Ecology!
As a Salesian how can we instill care for our planet? Don Bosco used to take his boys regularly on treks and nature trails. He loved nature and in his early childhood years worked on the farm. Jesus and our blessed Mother spoke to him in his dreams using different animals of nature. We see a deep connection with nature and creation in all his works from care for his poor boys, to taking them on nature treks and spending time outdoors. Don Bosco understood that we are not just part of creation but are one with the Creator and creation.
How can we then go forward with benevolence and without doubt that all created things come from God and must go back to Him for His praise, reverence and service. We must value all the gifts and carry gratitude in our hearts for all God’s creation and the created things we have received from his bounty. This is the attitude we must carry in every Salesian home. We must ask our beloved Blessed Mother to guide our efforts so that we can offer all our labour back to our creator who has bestowed all his blessings upon us.
We are an international collective of young people from Salesian Institutions & Organizations who are passionate about the welfare of our only planet.
Season of Creation 2024
The theme for this year's Season of Creation is "To Hope and Act with Creation". The symbol that will guide us is "The first fruits of hope," inspired by Romans 8:19- 25. DBGA has put together a few resources which you can use for this Campaign. View our Campaign Note which consists of our posters, social media resource kit for Season of Creation 2024 and much more!
The Letter
A message for our Earth
“We see what is happening, and the worst thing is that we are becoming used to it. This ‘becoming used to’ is a terrible illness.” – Pope Francis.
Featuring:
Pope Francis;
Cardinal Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household;
Cacique Dadá, Leader of the Novo Lugar community of the Borarí people (Voice of the Indigenous)
Arouna Kandé, a climate refugee hailing from the Kolda region of Senegal (Voice of the Poor)
Ridhima Pandey, a young climate activist from Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India (Voice of the Youth)
Greg Asner and Robin Martin, marine biologists from Hawaii, United States of America (Voice of Wildlife)
Lorna Gold, president of Laudato Si’ Movement.
This documentary focuses on the encyclical letter ‘Laudato Si’ addressed to everyone that the Pope wrote in 2015. Today his message is even more urgent!
This film is presented by YouTube Originals, produced by an Oscar-winning Off The Fence Productions, in partnership with the Laudato Si’ Movement.
About Us
Don Bosco Green Alliance is an international Green Salesian Movement of people from the Salesian Family institutions, who contribute to global environmental action, thought and policy. Launched in 2018, the alliance is today an active platform where Salesian Family institutions, organisations and individuals exchange ideas and work together on global environmental campaigns all for the ‘Love of Creation.’ Read More...
Priority Areas
Member Activities & Contributions
Working for an environmentally friendly education in the Technical-Artisan Training Centres in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
How do we promote youth leadership in the environmental field? How do we support ecological entrepreneurship by students? How do we promote the attitude necessary for young people, future professionals in technical sectors, to adopt more environmentally friendly work practices? These are just some of the questions addressed during the second regional meeting of the "Green Consciousness, Resilience and Sustainability in the Andean Region" programme, which took place from 18 to 22 November in the city of Piura, Peru.
This space, developed as part of the cooperation with the Belgian Salesian NGO VIA Don Bosco, brought together the teachers of the Salesian Technical-Artisan Training Centres from Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, the representatives of the respective Provincial Planning and Development Offices and those of VIA Don Bosco. This is a pioneering programme in the region, as it aims to train young people as future citizens aware of the environmental cause and to promote the creation of networks between the Provinces.
Rain Barrel at Don Bosco Gymnasium, Germany
The Don Bosco Gymnasium at Germany recently installed a rain barrel in their schoolyard. Here’s what their Instagram post says -
Recently there is a rain barrel on our schoolyard - a project that serves not only the environment, but also the education of our students. Installation was made possible by the program @giesskannenheldinnen of the city of Essen, which promotes sustainable projects and supports the use of rainwater as a resource. 👍
The new rain barrel is a small but important symbol of sustainable thinking and a step towards an environmentally conscious future. The project also supports the Don Bosco Green Alliance. 💚
Reusing the matte herb
Grade 2 students of Casa Salesiana Santo Domingo Savio in Chubut, Argentina made biodegradable pots reusing the matte herb which is local to them as can be seen in the images.
Don Bosco Madagascar receives Green Skills Award 2024
Earlier this year, the European Training Foundation (ETF) hosted the Green Skills Award which celebrates innovative initiatives that promote sustainable practices and the development of green skills globally.
For the Green Skills Award 2024 year, they received 316 applications from 53 countries among which was Don Bosco Madagascar.
The jury selected the 10 finalists with nearly 18,000 people from their audience on social media voting for their favourite stories.
Participation in the Environmental Fair for Water and Biodiversity
The Salesian Agricultural School of Catemu, Chile had the honor of participating in the Environmental Fair for Water and Biodiversity, an event organized by the Environmental Department of the Municipality of Catemu together with the Terram Foundation. This event brought together various institutions committed to the care of the environment and the promotion of sustainable practices.
Our educational community presented an outstanding display of agroecological initiatives, which included:
🌱 The use of Luffa as a substitute for synthetic sponges, highlighting its biodegradable and environmentally friendly properties.
🌿 Natural biopreparations, such as nettle, used to fertilize crops and the biopreparation was explained as pest control in an organic way, reducing the use of chemicals.
Green Activities at school in Brazil!
One of our new members, Instituto Nossa Senhora da Glória - Castelo from Brazil has sent us a report on the environment project of their school known as Green Castle Project. Have a look at their initiatives and be inspired to imitate their zeal towards caring for our common home!
6th grade students at Colégio Castelo carry out a solidarity action by collecting bottle caps
In a gesture of solidarity and commitment to the environment, 6th grade students at INSG/Castelo – Macaé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil delivered, this Tuesday (12 November 2024), donations of plastic bottle caps collected in the CINE Castelo Project, held during Expo Castelo in September this year.
The CINE Castelo Project, coordinated by teachers Mariúcha Correa (Writing) and Thaynara Brasil (Portuguese), provided students with a rich learning and creativity experience through the production of a short film. Throughout the process, students developed several skills such as planning, teamwork and problem-solving.
To make the launch of the short film even more meaningful, admission was charged in plastic bottle caps, encouraging the participation of the school community and raising awareness about the importance of recycling. The bottle caps collected were donated to the Tampinhas do Bem Project, which transforms this material into resources for the neutering of abandoned animals. This sustainable practice reinforces Colégio Castelo's commitment as a member of the Don Bosco Green Alliance.
Blog Articles
As the year comes to a close, many experience a slower work period as schools and colleges break for vacation. This is the time most people are busy arranging Christmas gatherings, travel, and family vacations. Amidst all of this, we must not forget that the season of Advent is a call to spiritual renewal, to deeper love, to fruitful meditation on key figures of our salvation history (the prophets, Mary, John the Baptist).
As we conclude this year’s Season of Creation, we reflect on the vibrant and meaningful activities that brought our community together in celebration, reflection, and action. From September 1st to October 4th, we embraced the theme “To Hope and Act with Creation" Take a glimpse at the activities from the Salesian Family.
Changing a few habits when it comes to food consumption to avoid wastage can make a big difference:
● Schedule a weekly ‘Use It Up’ Day or ‘Use It Up’ Meal to make the most of leftover ingredients.
The world wasted 1.05 billion tonnes of food in 2022, about 1/5 of all the food that was available to consumers.
● Most food wastage, 60%, occurs in the home.
Partners
