FAITH-BASED

FAITH-BASED EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (FBESD)

To play, press and hold the enter key. To stop, release the enter key.

Formal Faith-Based ESD

ARC (The Alliance of Religions and Conservation) in partnership with KOEE so an opportunity to create a unique model to inspire faith-motivated environmental education development in schools using micro-projects of which would address key environmental themes which are Water, Health (Sanitation and Hygiene), Agriculture, Waste, Energy, Biodiversity and Climate Change.

Within each theme are specific messages highliting faith values and teachings on each topic , as well as background information and class activities that link into the curriculum.

The Faith-Based Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) initiative in Kenya was launched in 2013 with KOEE spearheading the programme . It was very important to work with the Faith groups to develop crucial religioud values element of the toolkit. They included Catholic Church of Kenya, Aglican Church of Kenya, Seventh Day Adventists, Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims and The Hindu Council of Kenya

Non-Formal Faith-Based ESD

The active involvement of the wider community in the formal faith-based ESD programme in schools has led to the expansion of the project to enable similar micro-projects to be launched for these communities through their faith groups.

KOEE in conjuction with ARC and ACT! (Act Change Transform) launched two non-formal faith-based ESD Projects in Western Kenya which focused on combating climate change and enhancing food security in four counties, were built on the Faith-Based Teacher's Toolkit as well as on ARC's four year programme to engage faith groups in responding to climate change, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and sustainability issues.

Currently KOEE is getting Machakos and Marsabit County On board and is hoping to have a positive impact as it did in the western part of Kenya

Toolkit Objectives

The Faith-based ESD Teacher’s Toolkit has several key aims.

1. Inspire faith-motivated environmental action in schools, with environmental care seen as a faith responsibility because it is about caring for God’s creation.

2. Enhance faith-based value systems and positive behaviour in the school and community to promote sustainable development.

3. Enable teachers, pupils and the wider community to acquire greater awareness of, and sensitivity to, environmental problems.

4. Build the capacity of both teachers and pupils to identify and solve sustainable development challenges through multiple teaching and learning approaches.

Beyond Kenya...

The Toolkit was launched in Nairobi in July 2013. It was endorsed by leaders of the faiths involved (Christianity, Islam and Hinduism) and is in the process of being accepted as an official resource.

In September 2013 it was taken to Tanzania in a two-day workshop held in Dar es Salaam, organised by ARC, KOEE and the Jane Goodall Institute for faith leaders, policy makers and development partners (below).

In October 2014 the Toolkit was presented to the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment meeting in Botswana

It was taken to Uganda in March 2014 in a two-day workshop. Work is underway to adapt it for the Ugandan context.

The Faith-based ESD Toolkit – next steps

The Faith-based ESD Teacher’s Toolkit has been developed by the Alliance of Religions and Conservation and the Kenya Organization for Environmental Education. It has been received eagerly by the faiths and applauded by secular groups, including education authorities. It has been piloted in formal and non-formal initiatives in Kenya and introduced to Tanzaniaand Uganda. Now ARC and KOEE are seeking partnerships to develop the Faith-based ESD Toolkit approach further.