Climate and Environment
Climate and Environment
Mavambo Orphan Care (MOC) recognizes the growing urgency of climate change and environmental degradation, particularly in communities already burdened by poverty, food insecurity, and health vulnerabilities. In response, MOC has integrated a dedicated Climate and Environment thematic area into its programming to promote environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and green practices across all its interventions. This thematic area protects natural ecosystems, reduces negative environmental impact of programme activities, and empower children, youth, parents and caregivers to become responsible stewards of the environment. By integrating climate and environmental sustainability into its existing programmatic areas, MOC ensures that its interventions contribute not only to the well-being of vulnerable children and families but also to the protection of the environment. All activities are guided by the organisation’s Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan (EMMP). Periodic climate change vulnerability assessments inform programme development and implementation.
- Climate-Smart School Feeding Initiatives
Under the school feeding program, some schools use firewood to prepare corn-soya blended (CSB) fortified meals for learners. This contributes to uncontrolled cutting down of trees, resulting in deforestation. MOC promotes environmentally sustainable practices by establishing woodlots in participating schools using fast-growing tree species such as Eucalyptus and Kenyan Croton. These woodlots help reduce pressure on local forests and contribute to reforestation and afforestation efforts.
MOC promotes the use of energy-efficient stoves such as the rocket stoves. This promotes reduced fuelwood consumption in peri-urban and rural schools. As part of its commitment to waste reduction and resource reuse, MOC also supports the recycling of food packaging into mats, storage bags, curtains, raincoats, textbook covers, and other educational materials, all promoting the green programming.
In urban schools, the organization encourages the adoption of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking, offering a clean and efficient energy alternative to wood-based fuels. Schools engaged in piggery and poultry-rearing activities are supported to establish biogas digesters, harnessing animal waste to generate renewable energy.
- Eco-Friendly Economic Strengthening
MOC integrates environmental conservation practices in household economic strengthening initiatives. All supported income-generating activities are assessed for their environmental impact to safeguard and sustain current and future generations. Participants are conscientized on how their projects can negatively affect the environment and design mitigation strategies collectively. Eco-friendly production methods, and safe disposal of by-products and waste are some of the mitigatory measures which are regularly checked for compliance. MOC emphases balancing livelihood improvement with environmental preservation by ensuring that economic activities such as cultivation including gardening do not degrade land, water, the atmosphere or biodiversity in the communities served. Vocational training and community apprenticeship programmes also ensures that youth do adopt green practices and prioritise climate-friendly trades such as eco-tourism, recycling.
- Eco-Friendly Learning Environments
MOC’s commitment to eco-conscious education is further exemplified by its library, the Sr. Kathleen Barbee Blue Lupin Library in Mabvuku, which serves as a model of an eco-friendly learning environment. The library is surrounded by a variety of indigenous and exotic tree species, creating a serene, shaded outdoor reading space that fosters a love for learning in harmony with nature. This green space not only offers a peaceful atmosphere for reading and reflection but also teaches children and youth the importance of environmental preservation through direct experience.
- Community Awareness
To promote environmental awareness and inspire long-term behaviour change, MOC implements structured environmental education within its life skills, child protection, and parenting programmes. Through school-based sessions, community dialogues, parent and caregiver training, participants are introduced to key concepts such as climate change adaptation, natural resource conservation, and sustainable living. MOC actively participates in Zimbabwe’s National Tree Planting Day every December, working alongside schools and local communities to plant trees in school yards, households, and public spaces. This annual initiative reinforces community responsibility toward reforestation and climate action. Through the Jesuit World Wide Learning, MOC is facilitating students access courses on Eco-Tourism.