Don Bosco Cambodia promotes #DBSchoolsGoGreen

(ANS – Kep) – In line with the orientations of the Youth Ministry Sector of the Salesian Congregation and the mandate of the 29th General Chapter on integral ecology, Don Bosco schools in Cambodia are actively promoting ecological awareness and sustainable practices through education, pastoral care and community involvement.

Don Bosco Kep and Don Bosco Sihanoukville have developed a range of initiatives that integrate care for creation into daily school life. Through reforestation activities, environmental education programmes and the protection of coastal ecosystems, students are encouraged to see ecology as an essential dimension of their human and Christian formation.

Among the most significant actions are tree planting projects, the development of green areas, and the restoration of mangroves along the coast. These initiatives are coordinated within the framework of the Don Bosco Green Alliance Cambodia, which brings together educational institutions, local communities and young people around a shared commitment to integral ecology.

A key emphasis, strongly encouraged by the Youth Ministry Sector, is the active participation of young people as protagonists of ecological change. Indigenous children and youth are also involved in these efforts, with initiatives such as Voices and the Namuncurá Short Film Festival offering platforms to express ecological concerns through storytelling, culture and creative media.

In harmony with the guidance of the Youth Ministry Sector, Fr Rafael Bejarano, General Councillor for Youth Ministry, has encouraged Salesian schools to take inspiration from the UNESCO Green School Quality Standard. In Cambodia, these principles are being gradually incorporated into educational practice, showing how ecological education can be integrated into academic programmes, vocational training and pastoral life.

Through these concrete actions, Don Bosco schools in Cambodia continue to embody the Salesian commitment to care for our common home, accompanying young people in becoming responsible citizens and credible witnesses of ecological responsibility within their communities.