Project Description
Resources for Youth
Resources to help and facilitate youth to love and care for Godβs creation
Activity Guides
- A Rocha UKβs Eco Church
- Youth Resources – Two Youth Program Series for youth aged 11-14 and aged 15-18 respectivelyΒ
- Youth Materials
- Eco Congregation Scotland
- Young People and the Environment resource
- The Salvation Army UK
- Care for Creation Youth Small Group. This guide includes four sessions to explore care for creation as an important mission priority, with lots of video clips which will display Godβs creation and provide accurate background information around this topic.
- Anglican Church of Southern Africa
- Care for Creation – Youth Manual – for 13-18 years olds. This youth training program helps and and establish a generation of Christians who are committed to safeguarding the integrity of creation and to sustaining and renewing the life of the Earth.
- Christian Aidβs
- Climate Justice Youth Resources.
- Letters for Creation school resources – These lesson plans unpack climate justice and explore how we can be courageous advocates for a sustainable and just future for the planet and for people everywhere. Designed for use in schools; it can also be used in a youth group setting.
- Tearfund
- Climate Resources
- We Are Tearfund Youtube Channel.Β
- Featuring lots of videos to inspire young people to be a generation that makes a difference!
Read and Explore More
Research Paper:Β Young Peopleβs Voices on Climate Anxiety, Government Betrayal and Moral Injury: A Global Phenomenon
The Lancet, 2021.09.07
Climate change has significant implications for the health and futures of children and young people, yet they have little power to limit its harm, making them vulnerable to increased climate anxiety. Qualitative studies show climate anxiety is associated with perceptions of inadequate action by adults and governments, feelings of betrayal, abandonment and moral injury. This study offers the first large-scale investigation of climate anxiety in children and young people globally and its relationship to government response. 10,000 young people (aged 16-25 years) in ten countries were surveyed. Data were collected on their thoughts and feelings about climate change, and government response.
ββ¦young people around the world report climate anxiety and distress, related to both ecological destruction and inadequate government response. We argue that the failure of governments to adequately reduce, prevent, or mitigate climate change is contributing to psychological distress, moral injury and injustice. Climate change, climate anxiety and inadequate government responses to these are chronic stressors which will negatively affect mental health and wellbeing. This survey offers an overview; further, detailed research is required to explore the complexities and wide variety of climate feelings. To support mental health, public discourse should encourage the expression of feelings that 60% of young people in this survey have described as being ignored or dismissed.β
βThe global scale of this study is sufficient to warrant a warning to governments and adults around the world, and demands an urgent need for more in-depth research, greater responsiveness to children and young peopleβs concerns, and immediate action on climate change.β
UK (2020)
Young people call on the church to tackle the climate crisisΒ β In 2020Β We Are TearfundΒ andΒ YouthscapeΒ surveyed 630 young Christians from the UK. We asked 14-19 year olds about their thoughts on the climate, the church and their faith. The research has found that 9 out of 10 Christian teenagers surveyed are concerned about climate change, but just one in 10 believe their church is doing enough to respond to the climate crisis.
For more information about the research, check out:Β We Are Tearfund β Burning Down the HouseΒ and alsoΒ Youthscape β Burning Down the House.
Could the church lose young people over climate inaction?Β This Tearfund articles reflects on what young Christians have to say about the churchβs response to the climate crisis
Canada (2023)
Tearfund Canada, in partnership with A Rocha Canada, conducted a survey geared towards young Christians about their beliefs surrounding creation care. The survey involved 742 young Christians along with focus groups over 120 people. The findings show that young Christians hold a strong concern for climate change and nature loss, and are compelling the church to take action.
92% of young Canadians surveyed stated that they believe caring for creation is an essential act of discipleship. They also believe it is an essential aspect of the Churchβs mission.Β Download the full Survey Report