To strengthen the network of volunteers in emergency preparedness and response called Redvolución Climática, on September 21st, 22nd and 23rd, 2015, 18 young Salvadorans are receiving a workshop to address issues related to Climate Justice.
This is the first national workshop, which will be reproduced in Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Colombia.
These activities are conducted under the Program for Promotion of Ecumenical Leadership that the Lutheran World Federation is implementing in partnership with Action by Churches Together for Development – Alliance ACT, with the participation of young leaders of Churches members of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI for its acronym in Spanish) of The Alliance of Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in Latin America – AIPRAL and the Lutheran churches in the region.
“For the LWF it is important to promote and facilitate ecumenical meeting space and in this case prioritize participation of young people from different churches and denominations. It is important to know and get involved in issues such as climate justice, which should be a priority in our advocacy agendas, working with the community and the churches” said Elena Cedillo, Regional Representative of the Lutheran World Federation / Department for World Service, Central America Program.
During these three days, young people will talk about climate change, its background, causes and effects, extreme weather events; the COP and global negotiations; Climate Change Law in El Salvador and the National Climate Change Plan; and Climate Justice focus from the churches, as well as biblical theological reflection.
During the day, young people have shown great interest and enthusiasm for work on the issue. “I am happy because this issue is a very important and it has to generate a greater impact on us, it’s important because maybe we cannot make big changes all at once, but can be gradual, we must begin ourselves in our home, in our community”, said Carmen Martinez, a 23-year-old young woman from the Salvadoran Lutheran Church.
“We have high expectations of what this group will do, because it is a new space with young people who are church leaders, who are appropriating and developing other vision of care of the Creation”, said Carlos Rauda, Regional Representative for the Alliance ACT Latin America and the Caribbean.
“I feel good because I’m here, it’s a new experience, I had never been to a meeting, it’s something new for me and very interesting, I think I’ll learn a lot about climate change, which affects us, its causes, and how can avoid it. My expectations are to learn and put into practice”, said Pablo Quintanilla, a 20-year-old representative of the Emanuel Baptist Church.
