Youth involvement in environmental care and advocacy
July 7, 2007
On June 23, 2007, a group of 15 youths from various polytechnics and tertiary institutions, as well as working adult volunteers, were commissioned as chartered members of Asian Journeys’ Green Desert Club, as an encouragement for them to get involved in environmental care and awareness raising projects.
These youths had undertaken a project to Beijing and participated with the Beijing Jiaotong University students (from the Green Family Club, also an environmental interest group on campus) in organising youth forums, environmental concert and tree-planting in the countryside.
On that bright sunny day at the Raffles House on Fort Canning Hill, these youths participated in a simple commissioning service preceding the launch of the Green Desert Club. The proceedings were led by several Christian pastors from Anglican, Presbyterian and Methodist churches, each sharing his faith perspectives for environmental stewardship through a litany of prayers and Scriptural recitation.
The Very Revd Kuan Kim Seng, Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, was gracious to be present to share an exhortation from Deuteronomy reminding the assembled of the Creator’s care for His creation and encouraging Christians to be actively promoting environmental stewardship.
Asian Journeys’ ED Lawrence Ko together with the clergy supportive of Green Desert Club, from left Rev Jimmy Tan, Rev Barry Leong, Rev Derrick Lau, The Very Revd Kuan Kim Seng, Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral, and Rev Koh Hock Soon.