Welcome to Photo Friday! Each Friday, we share photo collections of our absolute favourite shots from our sponsor sites around the world.
This week, May 16-24, Pope Francis and the Global Catholic Climate Movement invite all Catholics to celebrate the fifth anniversary of Pope Francis’ 2015 Encyclical, Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home. Catholics everywhere are participating through calls to action like reflecting on consumption, spending time in nature, and reading and praying the Laudato Si’.
In honour of this special week, we’re sharing our top 5 eco-friendly photos that we’ve gathered from our sites! Families and children at our sites constantly use their resourcefulness and ingenuity to care for the planet and one another.
#5: Energy-saving stoves
A popular item from our gift catalogue is the eco stove. These energy efficient stoves produce less smoke, which is much safer and cleaner for the cooks. They also require much less firewood! Schools near our sites with lunch programs that use traditional fire stoves require the students to bring heavy wood to school each day, so an eco stove allows students to focus on their studies and arrive to class on time.
#4: Eco-bricks for building
Waste management is a looming environmental issue in the Philippines. At our Samar site, children were taught to minimize waste through an innovative and eco-friendly way. Children stuff empty bottles with wrappers and other waste, specifically plastics. These bottles will be used as “eco-bricks”, a filler brick in building. The site uses the eco-bricks to help build outdoor structures at schools!
#3: Stunning, sustainable gardens
Lucia is a sponsored elder from our Don Bosco site in Paraguay. She is a mother of five, grandmother of 12, and great-grandmother of five! Two years ago, she had a stroke, but she has regained much of her mobility and enjoys gardening and cooking. She prides herself in her home garden, which grows pineapple, cassava, grapes, bananas, and more! She also keeps hens for fresh eggs. Her source of livelihood has always been selling her produce at local markets.
#2: Girls for world change
At our Starehe Girls’ site in Kenya, sustainable farming is a huge focus. “The World Changers,” the school’s student-run gardening club, helps out with planting, weeding, and watering crops. They also learn sustainable farming methods from local farming experts. They love learning about the best and most efficient way to grow food for the school!
#1: A smart fix to a “jam!”
The “Onz Manman” is a group of moms from our Haiti North site that make and sell delicious jam for an income. Part of the incentive around creating the small business was that the moms noticed that one of their greatest local riches, abundant tropical fruit, was frequently spoiling and going to waste. With their careful processing, they turn excess fruit into delicious jam!
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