Benin – The AON Province organises Environment Week: a campaign to protect our Common Home

(ANS – Cotonou) – Our Lady of Peace Province of North-West Africa (AON) celebrated Provincial Environment Week from 20 to 24 April 2026. A series of educational and spiritual activities filled the days, inspired by the spirit of the Encyclical Laudato Si’. The initiative brought together young people, educators and the entire Salesian Family from various sectors around a common goal: to promote concrete actions for the safeguarding of our Common Home.

 The Provincial Environment Week was characterised by awareness-raising, commitment and action. The initiative, in fact, forms part of the desire to strengthen the ecological awareness of everyone within Salesian works, in line with calls for environmental protection.

 A week characterised by concrete and educational initiatives

 A wide range of activities were organised throughout the week, all aimed at raising public awareness and promoting behavioural change. Educational content, awareness-raising videos and health campaigns were presented. Discussions focused on the importance of recycling, protecting nature and adopting eco-responsible behaviours in daily life.

 Young people were at the heart of this initiative thanks to their active participation in the various activities. For example, in various centres, videos were produced featuring children and young people to illustrate simple practices such as keeping the environment clean or sorting waste. Furthermore, these productions helped to highlight their commitment, whilst inspiring other young people to take action.

 Educative and pastoral communities supported this movement by incorporating moments of reflection and awareness-raising into their activities. A prize competition was also launched in this context.

 A collective awareness for sustainable action

 Furthermore, this week has highlighted the importance of collective action in the face of environmental challenges. Indeed, despite the limitations of major international decisions, local initiatives demonstrate that every action counts and that change is possible at all levels.

 The involvement of young people, educators and communities has helped to create a genuine collective dynamic. Consequently, this mobilisation is not limited to a week of activities, but paves the way for a lasting commitment to environmental protection. It is therefore up to each of us to carry this momentum forward, taking concrete action in our daily lives to preserve our Common Home.