INTERFAITH POETIC YOUTH FORUM EVENT ,12 DECEMBER 2020

December 12, 2020, marked the 5th Anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

On that day, the office of Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Franciscans Africa mobilized schools for the climate in a virtual poetic forum. Interfaith youth forum is always an important platform for us because it gives space to young people from different faiths to advocate for clean energy. The main goal of the event was to bring together young people in the climate movement to mark the 5^th anniversary of the Paris Agreement and call on the government to demonstrate real climate leadership to stay within 1.5 by keeping it in the ground and not funding fossil fuels.

The young people from different schools and universities presented different poetic items under the theme “We rise again”

The event was attended by the youth from Harmony institute (Muslims), Bahai faith, Youth Network for Inter-religious Brotherhood, Anglican, and Catholics. We acknowledge also the participation of many Franciscan sisters and brothers, and Franciscan youth from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, DRC, and Uganda as well as the US.

Schools that joined were: Mama Africa, Our Lady of Mercy Ngarariga Girls Sec School, Our Lady of Mercy Girls Shauro Moyo, Huruma Girls, Young Mercy Ecology, The Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Tangaza University College.

Key moments

Omar Elmawi, a coordinator of the DeCoalonize campaign, a coal resistance movement in Kenya, introduced to young people the historical background of the coal business in Kenya, the movement and strategies, some wins, and continuation of resistance.

Online interaction: The presentation of Omar was very informative to young people and triggered an interesting discussion in the chatbox with questions and responses. Click Here to View Chat Box

Rukia Ahmed, a form4 student leader from Our Lady of Mercy Shauri Moyo Girls was chosen to be the guest of honor because she has demonstrated since 2019 her qualities of a climate activist and good young leader. After regretting the failure of our governments to implement the Paris Agreement, Rukia spoke strongly in a very motivational way about her feelings and invited her fellows’ young students to keep on the fight.

She said:“… I feel the pain of the poor and the young generation. Every night I get nightmares seeing the black gases in the atmosphere, no social justice, we are not allowed to talk, the voice of the poor have been ignored…. might be born poor but I have a dream to die rich, but you political leaders make me feel sad because the rich out there are discouraging me because their work is to oppress the poor. To the young people like me, …we are then ones that have energy and gifted enough, let us take action, …you will either be at the table to discuss your future and eat well or be at the menu to be eaten well” Click to Watch Rukia Speech

Art-performance: the performances were in form of songs, Poems, spoken words, and motivational speeches.

Everybody tackled the theme of the day from different angles emphasizing the common fight for 1.5C. We can mention the poem “My sight, my feeling” by Mama Africa Sec. School from Nairobi/Mathare, the song we rise by Franciscan Little sisters of St Joseph, and the Spoken word “the journey” by Ericko Raswamuthoni from Tangaza University college, etc.

Striking moment: We had a special moment of lighting candles in solidarity with victims of climate injustice and Covid-19. At the same time participants did an online strike by raising their placards with messages, shouting and chanting, calling on the Kenyan government to focus on its nationally determined contributions to limit GHG emissions by 30% by 2030 by rapidly phasing out fossil fuels. They also amplified the call for a just recovery ahead of the COP26 by urging the government to invest money in renewable energy and healthier and more equitable jobs that take care of the people and the planet. On the same day, a Twitter discussion has been trending emphasizing the same message.@FaithAction_KE