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Inspired by Salesian charism and Pope Francis' call to protect our Common Home, the educational community at Ceferino Namuncurá School in Salta, Argentina took on the challenge of completely transforming the school garden through the “Everything is Connected” project, an initiative that combines ecological education, creativity, community work, and deep spirituality.
The project was born with a clear purpose: to educate children and young people in an integral ecology that promotes responsible habits, youth leadership, and meaningful learning. To this end, a proposal was designed that not only renews the physical space of the garden but also invites us to rethink our ways of living, relating to each other, and caring for the Earth.
Ecological structures and experiential learning
One of the central elements of the project was the construction of a rainwater collection roof made from recycled plastic bottles, along with a wall of eco-bricks produced by the students themselves. The campaigns to collect, separate waste, and reuse materials managed to involve the entire community: students, teachers, families, and school staff.
Practical workshops, led by teachers and an engineer, allowed students to actively participate in placing posts, assembling bases, designing gutters, and making eco-bricks. Each technical challenge became an opportunity to learn from experience, integrate curriculum content, and strengthen collaborative work.
Art, care, and spirituality: a mural that expresses identity
As a visible sign of institutional commitment, students from preschool, elementary school, and high school collaborated in the creation of a mural made from recycled bottle caps depicting Pope Francis and the spirit of Laudato Si'. This collective work, created with patience and creativity, expresses the conviction that even the smallest elements—such as a bottle cap—can acquire new value when they are given new meaning through care and hope.
The mural thus becomes a permanent reminder that environmental education is not only a practice, but also a spiritual and community gesture.
An open-air classroom
With the structure installed, the gutters in place, and the garden renovated, the space is transformed into an open-air classroom where students can learn surrounded by plants, colors, and messages that encourage ecological responsibility. Rainwater harvesting will enable sustainable practices, while daily contact with nature will strengthen the connection to the earth and the spirituality that inspires the project.
Towards the inauguration: a dream built by everyone
After weeks of work, commitment, and enthusiasm, the garden is almost ready. Only the final details of the mural remain, which already reflects the journey taken by the entire educational community. The satisfaction of what has been achieved is accompanied by the certainty that this experience will leave a lasting mark.
The “Everything is Connected” project reaffirms that caring for our Common Home is an educational, community-based, and deeply Salesian act. It is a gesture that unites faith, science, creativity, and service, teaching children and young people that transforming the world begins with transforming one's own environment.
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