Indonesia: Football for the Climate

Creation - not for sale

"Football for the climate"

Young reformer: Pimpinan Brades Sijabat

Church: Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church

Implementation period: November 2015 - January 2016

How many people were involved? 180

What did you aim at?

We aimed at engaging youth and educating others about climate care. Football is one of the methods we used to invite and engage more young people. Young people love either to play football or to watch. Through football matches, we created a new group (football players and supporters). In each match, we opened with a presentation about climate change, fires burning Indonesian forest, and fog which already affected two big islands in Indonesia. The presentation then lead into discussion before the football matches started. In the evening of the final day, we had a music concert (live music) for those players and supporters. We also used skype connect to people aboard (to another young reformers). We used this opportunity to raise our commitment to care for the creation.

What did you achieve?

We hosted a Football match for 4 LWF member churches in Paranginan
We gave a Presentation and discussion about climate change before each match begin
On the final day (evening), we held a music concert (live music) to announce all the winners, gave the medals and entertained all young people.

What did you do?

We created a committee to manage all the sessions about climate change and organized a football tournament in cooperation with churches and local government for the benefit of the youth. We raised awareness on climate change and gave the youth the possibility to play football together in the community.

Interview with young reformers

What is the ongoing reformation you want to see in your church?: I want to see a church that puts into practice the themes of Salvation, Human beings and creation not for sale. This is the reformation I would like to see: that people can be baptized and become christians.
What has been the reaction of the project among the youth?: The reaction has been great from the youth, churches and the local government. This football tournament encouraged the youth to learn about climate change and also to play football.
How has been the participation of the youth in the reformation project?: We had a committee (4 youth leaders/4 different churches). From each church we got 40 people including 15 players and 25 to watch the game. Also the local communities and families joined to watch the football tournament.
What has been challenging about creating the project?: The budget to run this project was very low, this was very difficult. Also after the games were over, there was no follow up. The youth were not willing to continue meeting up for the learning of the climate change.
Did everything go as planned?: Somethings did not go as planned because of the lacking of budget but in the end the goal was achieved.
How do you see the continuity of the project?: We need to continue this project. This method worked well: we play football and also learn together. Hopefully, we will get a new leader to continue.