International Initiative Trains Religious Leaders for Climate & Environmental Leadership
GreenFaith announced today that sixty faith leaders have been named GreenFaith Fellows and will join the 2021 Class of the GreenFaith Fellowship Program. The Fellowship Program is the only international comprehensive education and training program to prepare religious leaders from diverse religious traditions for climate and environmental leadership. “We’re thrilled to welcome them to the Program,” said Rev. Fletcher Harper, GreenFaith’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working with each of them to support their growth as a climate and environmental justice leader.”
Through regional caucus meetings, extensive case studies, monthly and quarterly webinars, the Fellows will engage in education and training in eco-theology, community organizing, as well as climate and environmental justice advocacy. Each Fellow develops their own eco-theology and organizes religious leaders to build communities of care and resilience in response to climate and environmental injustices. Upon completion of their year in the Fellowship, they will join the Fellowship’s global network and mentor other emerging religious leaders in this field.
The class of 60 Fellows come from diverse religious backgrounds, representing Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Baha’i, Buddhist, Hindu, and Indigenous Religions. The Fellows will also form regional caucuses in the United States, Latin America, Africa, Indonesia, and India. Fellows come from a wide variety of settings, including churches, mosques, temples, universities, campus ministries, NGO’s, and denominational organizations.
GreenFaith’s Director of Education & Training, Rev. abby mohaupt, directs the Program, with support from the Education & Training Team. “This program will offer these leaders the opportunity to become well-trained leaders in climate and environmental justice issues,” said mohaupt. “They will help to create communities of care and resilience that will heal people and the planet.”
GreenFaith is building a global, multi-faith climate and environmental movement. Together our members create communities to transform ourselves, our spiritual institutions, and society to protect the planet and create a compassionate, loving and just world. Founded in 1992, GreenFaith is a leader in the fast-growing climate and environmental justice movement and has won national and international recognition for its work. For more information, see www.greenfaith.org.
The full list of Fellows and their home countries are:
| Didier | NSHIMIRIMANA | Burundi |
| Sukh Bachan | Kaur | Chile |
| Carlos Augusto | Lozano | Colombia |
| Paula Andrea | Garcés Martinez | Colombia |
| Nudy Maria | Oviedo Lozada | Colombia |
| William | Porras | Colombia |
| Diana Carolina | Peña Murcia | Colombia |
| Azucena | Correa Plata | Colombia |
| sarah | berry | India |
| Shabana | Khan | India |
| subhi | dhupar | India |
| Brigitta | Isworo Laksmi | Indonesia |
| Faiza | Fauziah | Indonesia |
| Gina | Karina | Indonesia |
| Nefa | Firman | Indonesia |
| Syamsidar | S | Indonesia |
| Edith | Nyamwange | Kenya |
| JAIRUS | KOKI | Kenya |
| Jean Marie Vianney | nikobahoze | Kenya |
| Maurine | Otieno | Kenya |
| Charles | Bakolo | Malawi |
| mansurni | abadi | Malaysia |
| Wulandari | Wulandari | Malaysia |
| Mayela | Manasjan | Mexico |
| Tamar Zehla | Jiménez | Mexico |
| Daniela | Ochoa | Mexico |
| El jadid | Saida | Morroco |
| Al-Mahroof | Muhammad | Nigeria |
| Dinkin | Kalbeth | Nigeria |
| Olamilekan kolade | Fadahunsi | Nigeria |
| VICTOR | AYEGBA MATTHEW | Nigeria |
| Gloria | Lozada | Puerto Rico |
| Carmen E. | Sotero-Figueroa | Puerto Rico |
| Kubwimana | Joseph | Rwanda |
| MAHAME | Andrew | Rwanda |
| Medoune | Niang | Senegal |
| Marwa | Elhaj | Sudan |
| Rianne | ten Veen | The Netherlands |
| Bonnie | Massey | USA |
| Caitlin | Castelaz | USA |
| Fran | Teplitz | USA |
| Gail | Tierney | USA |
| Jessie | Rathburn | USA |
| Jim | Robinson | USA |
| Kaley | Casenhiser | USA |
| kip | Coerper | USA |
| Laura | Heller | USA |
| Madison | Winters | USA |
| Shweta | Arya | USA |
| Vijah | Ramjattan | USA |
| Whitney | Terrill | USA |
| Jessica | Rigel | USA |
| Angela | Ngulube | Zambia |
| Collins | Shava | Zimbabwe |
| Elizabeth Rudo | Munyama | Zimbabwe |
| Jonathan | Chihwai | Zimbabwe |
| Tendai | Matamba | Zimbabwe |
| Elizabeth Rudo | Munyama | Zimbabwe |
| Rumbidzai | Chihwai | Zimbabwe |