The community in Nouakchott shares the dream of a beautiful world
Since last year, we have been involved in ecological training in various parish groups. This year, the question arose: Why not find a place to discuss this topic with Mauritanian youth and children? The idea came to us to make this proposal to a school with which we already collaborate through the scholarships offered to certain children, the Pythagore School. At the same time, the proposal also came from them, and they shared with us their dream of organizing nature outings for their students.
How could we not see the finger of God in this?
Since then, Sr. Mia has given three ecology-related activities to the elementary and middle school students. The focus was on climate change, human responsibility, and the call for behavioral change. For example, putting garbage in the trash can and not next to it, filling your water bottle to come to school instead of buying water in plastic bottles, buying eco-friendly snacks to produce less waste, etc.
In addition, seventy kindergarten children had the opportunity to discover the Bird Park where they learned about an ostrich, a turkey, a hen, a pigeon, etc.
Two groups, one from elementary school and one from secondary school, visited our friend Mr. Mbow’s garden, about twenty kilometers from Nouakchott. They saw how lettuce, tomatoes, eggplants, turnips, etc. grow. They admired the trees and the ponds used to water all this greenery in the middle of the desert.
A refrain from a song particularly helps us in these activities:
Dream of a more beautiful world to build together, dream of a new world.
The students, both Christian and Muslim, understand very well that it’s about moving from the old world to the new world, creating it together through our changes in mentality and behavior.
This is what we are doing, using simple means to participate in Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’ call. He is sure to help us from now on from heaven.
