Young people from the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil plant trees as part of the ‘Sowing the Way’ campaign, held in conjunction with the 2025 COP30 in Belém. Photo: IECLB
22 June deadline to submit proposals for community-based initiatives
(LWI) - The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has invited young people in its member churches to submit proposals for small-scale climate projects led by youth. The deadline for applications is 22 June 2026.
Each selected project is eligible for up to EUR 2,000 and should be implemented between July 2026 and January 2027. The initiative that LWF began in 2020 aims to strengthen concrete actions to tackle the climate crisis in communities across different regions of the world.
Through the small-scale projects, youth in LWF’s member churches have been helping communities and churches to mitigate the impacts of climate change. One such initiative, the ‘Together for Green Community’ with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), involves secondary school and middle-level learning institutions in environmental conservation. Erick Kapira, the project coordinator, explained how activities such as student clubs and tree-planting both inside and outside schools strengthen awareness and advocacy about the effects of climate change.
Kapira said the community-based activities have reached more than 860 young women and men from secondary schools and colleges, and church youth groups in Kilwa district in the coastal region of Lindi. “We planted 5,890 trees in schools and restored coastal ecosystems by planting more than 20,000 mangrove trees along the Kilwa Masoko coastline,” he said. The ELCT team also worked with radio and television stations to increase public awareness and strengthen community participation in environmental protection and sustainable natural resource management.
We planted 5,890 trees in schools and restored coastal ecosystems by planting more than 20,000 mangrove trees along the Kilwa Masoko coastline
Erick Kapira, coordinator, ‘Together for Community’, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania
In another project, youth of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB), organized a three-day training attended by young people from 18 synods. Their activities included production of a series of educational videos on waste management, setting up organic vegetable gardens, making compost, rainwater harvesting, and other topics related to environmental care. “Caring for our common home begins where I set foot and becomes a collective effort when good practices are shared, cross-pollinate and inspire further good practices,” remarked IECLB youth leader Carine Wendland, who is also a member of the LWF’s Latin America and Caribbean Climate Justice Forum.
The LWF seeks to support initiatives that contribute both to reducing carbon emissions and to strengthening community resilience. Other examples include campaigns on renewable energy and energy efficiency, promotion of sustainable transport, ecosystem restoration, recycling, as well as projects related to water conservation, and access to clean cooking solutions. Proposals for training and capacity-building, particularly those aimed at young people and women, are also encouraged.
Caring for our common home begins where I set foot and becomes a collective effort when good practices are shared, cross-pollinate and inspire further good practices
Carine Wendland, Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil
The call for proposals is open to all LWF member churches. Priority will be given to projects led by young people aged 30 or under, or involving significant youth participation. Proposals must address the needs and realities of each community, have clear objectives and be endorsed by the relevant church authorities. Each member church may submit only one application. More information about eligibility is available here
The ELCT ‘Together for Green Community’ initiative included the planting of 20,000 mangrove trees along the Kilwa Masoko coastline to support environmental conservation and climate resilience. Photo: Erick Kapira
Under the ‘Together for Green Community’ project, students from Ngome Secondary School successfully planted fruit and shade trees to promote environmental conservation, improve the school environment, and encourage environmental stewardship among future generations. Photo: Erick Kapira
The IECLB National Youth Congress (CONGRENAJE) provides a dedicated space to promote the climate justice work that is carried out by LWF’s Latin America and Caribbean Climate Justice Forum. Photo: IECLB
