Season of Creation: Schools engaging with Climate Change

Designed to engage students in caring for creation, the Columban Justice and Peace Education Worker James Trewby is heading up a two-week programme for the Our Lady and All Saints Catholic Multi Academy Company (MAC) in Birmingham Archdiocese.

The MAC comprises 12 primary schools and one secondary school in the Solihull, Birmingham and Warwickshire areas.

The initiative began on Monday 20 September and is seeing young people in schools across Solihull, Birmingham and Warwickshire challenged to think more responsibly about the climate. Through a series of inclusive activities spanning two weeks, students are being engaged to take action to bring about change. This will set the stage for a celebratory Mass at 10am on 4 October, the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of the environment, at St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham.

In November this year, the UK is hosting the UN climate summit, known as COP26, in Glasgow. It is hoped that this will be the most ambitious climate summit ever. The programme in the schools has been designed by James and his team to engage students to prepare for the COP26. It takes into account the ecumenical 'Season of Creation', an annual occasion between 1 September and 4 October, when the global Christian family unites to pray and take action for our common home, and 'Great Big Green Week', an opportunity for communities to hold events that raise awareness of climate change and the need to protect the planet.

James Trewby explains: "it is fantastic for the Columbans to be a part of the launch of this new programme and to be able to help educators and young people explore the relationship between faith and action on social justice issues." He adds, "It is a privilege to work with a team of over 700 staff to shape the future of Catholic education for over 4,500 children across the Solihull, Birmingham and Warwickshire."

The programme began with schools across the MAC holding assemblies that educated students on the causes and effects of the climate crisis, the importance of creation and our role as people of faith in helping to protect it. Students then watched an interview with Marjorie Engcoy, a Columban Lay Missionary who lives and works in the island nation of Fiji and advocates for climate justice. She explained the devastating impact of climate change on those living in the country, and detailed her experience of flash flooding, heat waves and landslides - direct consequences of the effects of climate change. Marjorie explained our role as Christians which is to listen to the cry of the people and the cry of the Earth. She challenged the young people to be bold and to stand up for the voiceless, the first victims of climate change, providing proactive ways they can take action.

During the second week, students will be encouraged to put their faith into action. Activities have been arranged to improve the student's understanding of the climate emergency and what caring for creation looks like. With the help of their educators, students will be stimulated to think creatively about things they can to which will raise awareness of climate change and motivate others. This might be through the composition of pieces of music, choreographed dance routines, artwork made from recycled materials, banners and prayers. Some of these will be used in the Mass at St Chad's Cathedral on 4 October.

Teachers have also been asked to dialogue with their local Members of Parliament (MPs). Students will write letters to their MPs challenging them to put pressure on the UK Government to undertake serious climate action in Glasgow. Bringing the two-week long programme to an end, students will have the opportunity after the Mass to meet with political leaders in Victoria Square, Birmingham. They will hand over their letters and explain why tackling climate change is extremely important not only for creation and to protect marginalised communities around the world who experience the worst of the climate emergency, but also for them, their futures and for generations to come.