‘And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations’ Revelation 22: 2

We are launching our Harvest appeal for this year in time for harvest season between September and October, and invite you to join us as we return to Bujumbura in Burundi to help fund Trees for Peace, supporting integrated environmental restoration and community peacebuilding.

New resources will appear here during August and early September, so please do check back soon!

The story so far

In 2023 the dioceses Derby and Bujumbura worked together in a ‘Trees for Life’ programme helping local people in the hills round Bujumbura city plant trees to protect their local homesteads from mudslide damage caused by climate change related flooding.

The work was transformative – 240 people were trained in agroforestry, nearly 65000 seedlings were planted along the hills’ contour lines, 16 self help groups were set up, which provided training in group governance, financial literacy, and savings mechanisms. And the hillsides are already more stable than they were. But important lessons have been learned, and there is more to do.

What now?

Whilst tree planting was primarily to prevent floodwaters from washing away huge ravines in the farmland, this shared enterprise also saw former enemies begin to make friends.

Burundi is a country where ethnic and political differences have often spilled over into violence. There is particular concern at the present time. The church, gifted in Christ with the ministry of reconciliation, now seeks to emphasise standing with local communities in sowing seeds of peace and reconciliation through practical, local community service – known as Ibikorwa Rusangi.

The value of working together for climate resilience is all the greater as strong bonds are built locally between people who never previously spoke to each other. Memories of trauma and violence are recent – there are those who would exploit this to turn people against one another again, especially at times of elections. But there is much that can be done.

Young people who have learned to make a living by setting up small businesses selling and planting trees are less likely to be recruited into gangs or be exploited for political violence.   Older people have seen enough poverty, violence, and environmental damage in their time to make them eager to support the church’s work in bringing people together to improve life chances for families living in Bujumbura Rural. Mothers with children to bring up are motivated to organise in self help groups to set up small businesses geared both towards creating incomes and improving agriculture. They don’t want to see their children fall prey to those seeking to manipulate the young.

Planting trees together is planting for the future, and for peace. This focus on environmental restoration, economic empowerment, and peacebuilding is good news for the people of these communities of Gisovu, Nyamaboko, Buhina, and Kabumba

What do we hope to fund?

Actions to be funded by the Bishop’s Harvest Appeal 2025:

Environmental Restoration:

• Climate and land degradation awareness training
• Eight nurseries for producing native agroforestry tree saplings
• 4,000m of contour lines dug prepared for planting

Economic Empowerment:

• More self-help groups – to engage 400 members
• Training in financial literacy, savings, and leadership
• Microloan systems set up to support income generating

Peacebuilding:

• Intergenerational dialogue groups
• Memory and Hope trauma-sharing workshops
• Tree planting and soil restoration as tools for reconciliation
• A Community Peace Committee established for each hill
• Training for community leaders in conflict mediation, de-escalation, and early warning systems
• Disseminate peace messaging in run up to electoral period
  • Train and deploy two ‘Youth Peace Brigades’ -
  • To host debates, art competitions promoting peaceful coexistence
  • To Develop radio programs on youth and peace
• Facilitate dialogue circles for women in self-help groups
• Ensure women are to the fore in Community Peace Committees
• Offer workshops on inclusive governance and women’s civic engagement.

Why us?

Since the Lambeth Conference, Bishop’s Libby and Malcolm have met with Bishop Eraste of Bujumbura to share and pray about each other’s ministry. As followers of Jesus, we seek to promote peace with God and with one another. As children of a creator, we seek to care for God’s beautiful and precious world. This project connects so closely with what we are trying to do in our diocese, our desired outcomes and priorities – especially around service, justice, and ‘going greener’. Centred on Jesus, who offered his life on a tree for the salvation of us all, this project demonstrates the love of God in practical action.

What can I do?

• First – please speak to others about the programme, and decide what your church or community can do to get involved.
• Check out the creative resources that will be appearing for schools and churches.
• Plan symbolically to plant a tree somewhere locally to symbolise our support for this initiative, showing that trees both here and there address climate change. Think how supporting this tree planting initiative reduces your own carbon footprint.
• Join in local initiatives where you live that integrate building community with protecting the environment.
• Give via our Give a Little account or directly to the Diocese of Derby - by cheque or bank transfer (please indicate that this is for the Harvest appeal with your donation)
• Pray for the churches on the hills around Bujumbura – as well as in the hills, valleys, and plains of Derbyshire, that in what we do the good news of the Kingdom of God will transform lives, grow church, and build community.