Chile: Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
Creation - not for sale
"Reform yourself! Recycle, Reduce, Reuse"
Young reformers: Karl Michael and Miguel Angel Nuñez
Church: Lutheran Church in Chile
Implementation period: 2016-2017
How many people were involved? 11
How many people did you reach? 100
What did you aim at?
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Introducing the theme of environmental care as a Christian responsibility (stewardship) and a response to the love of God manifested through creation
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Re-educating the youth and members of the Church on environmental sustainability and its theological-pastoral foundations
What did you achieve?
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Re-educate those who participated in the national youth camp in Puerto Fonck, as well as members of some communities (Valparaíso and Viña del Mar).
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Reduce the amount of waste produced in the national youth camp as in the communities mentioned above, separating them according to their materiality so that they can later be taken to a recycling center.
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In addition, we composted organic waste. This was achieved in the national youth camp and in the communities of Viña del Mar and Valparaiso
What did you do?
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Two educational talks at the 2016 national youth camp and one in 2017, as well as two talks on the Day of The Church in October 2016 titled "Sustainability as a Christian Responsibility in the Bible: The Creation is Not For Sale” and “Only by Scripture, Only by Grace, and Only by Faith for an Ecological Reform.”
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Eight expositions open to the community after services, presentation of the project to the groups of young people at Osorno and Valdivia, and presentation of the project to the community directors of the capital city, Santiago de Chile
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Formation of teams in charge of recycling in the communities of Valparaíso, Viña del Mar and Youth Camp (Puerto Fonck)
- Installation of trash containers and composter (Puerto Fonck), Vermicompostersas (Valparaíso and Viña del Mar), and banners (Puerto Fonck, Valparaíso and Viña del Mar).
Interview with young reformers
- What is the ongoing reformation you want to see in your church?
I want to see a unified Lutheran church in Chile working together in the name of Christ.
- What has been the reaction of the project among the youth?
The reaction has been very positive and very supportive from the youth. Also from the churches and communities, they were very happy about the ecological work and the protection of the creation.
- How has been the participation of the youth in the reformation project?
We had 30 youth participating at the national youth camp. Those participants spread what their knowledge in their own churches and communities becoming 100 youth involved. This was the way we could reach the different communities in Chile. We got the support from the national youth leadership to manage and lead the project. We also visited more communities when we had the chance.
- What has been challenging about creating the project?
The participation was difficult especially at the local level in the communities. The youth at the communities sometimes did not work in the project as expected or lost the interest. The budget was also limited to provide the material for the recycling in the communities.
- Did everything go as planned?
The first step worked well (the spreading the information). In the next steps in applying the project became difficult because some communities are smaller and the youth did not have much support to make everything possible.
- How do you see the continuity of the project?
Yes, we would like to continue. The topic is very important for the churches. We hope to see more possibilities for future planting of trees and more activities related to the protection of the environment. We need to find funds to support this project in future.