Malawi: Faith in Action - Empowering Religious Youth Leaders for Climate Justice
The active participation of the faith community in promoting environmental stewardship and advocating for climate justice is vital for achieving sustainable development. Yet, across Malawi and beyond, the voices of faith leaders—especially young people—are often missing from these critical platforms. This gap stems from limited awareness, inadequate training opportunities, and few spaces for interfaith engagement on climate issues.
To address this, World Faith Malawi has stepped forward to mobilize and empower religious youth leaders to take the lead in climate action from an interfaith perspective. Recognizing that faith communities hold both moral influence and grassroots reach, the organization is equipping young leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to drive meaningful change.
Recently, World Faith Malawi hosted a capacity-building training on environmental and climate justice from a religious perspective. The training brought together 60 youth leaders—30 female and 30 male—representing diverse traditions, including the Catholic Church, Pentecostal churches, Protestant churches, Islam, and the Bahá'í community.
Key Outcomes of the Training
Deepened Understanding of Climate Justice
Participants enhanced their knowledge of environmental and climate justice concepts.
Youth leaders identified unjust practices at both local and international levels, including historical emissions, global and national legal frameworks, and systemic inequities affecting vulnerable communities.
Strengthened Leadership and Advocacy Skills
The training sharpened participants’ leadership, communication, and advocacy abilities.
Equipped with these tools, youth leaders are now better prepared to mobilize peers in their congregations, raise awareness in their communities, and influence policymakers toward positive climate action.
Building an Interfaith Climate Movement
By bringing together leaders from multiple faith traditions, the training fostered solidarity and collaboration.
This interfaith approach not only broadened perspectives but also strengthened the collective voice of faith communities advocating for environmental stewardship.
Looking Ahead
World Faith Malawi believes that faith-driven leadership is essential for building a more sustainable and just future. The organization is committed to continuing its efforts to empower religious youth leaders—ensuring that they are not only participants but also changemakers in the fight for climate justice.
Together, through faith and action, Malawi’s young leaders are rising to meet one of the greatest challenges of our time.