As the global Church marks the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, commemorating the May 24, 2015 signing of Pope Francis’ landmark encyclical Laudato Si’: On Care for Our Common Home, institutions across the world are reflecting not only on the words of the Holy Father but also on how to embody them in action.
In Kenya, Tangaza University, in collaboration with the Gathengera Practical and Permaculture Center (GPPC), is responding to this call with a bold, grounded approach: transforming waste into food and restoring the land through sustainable, student-led agriculture.
From Waste to Wisdom: A Living Example at Tangaza
Rooted in Pope Francis’ vision of integral ecology, the initiative at Tangaza University is as much spiritual as it is practical. In Tangaza University, Nairobi, the Gathengera Center has established a full-scale waste management and organic composting system, converting food and garden waste into rich, fertile manure.
Meanwhile, on Tangaza’s university land in Kisaju, Kajiado County, the same collaboration has led to the creation of a market garden for indigenous foods, based on regenerative agriculture principles.
According to the Gathengera team, the project not only reduces environmental harm but helps build food resilience within the academic community. The initiative transforms campus waste into nourishment, restores degraded soil, and reconnects young people with the land.
“At GPPC, we aim to inspire and empower communities to embrace practical permaculture principles for a greener, more sustainable future,” their mission statement reads.
What Is Permaculture and Why Does It Matter?
Permaculture is more than a method of farming; it is a holistic design system rooted in observing and working with nature, rather than against it. Its goal is to create resilient ecosystems that mimic natural processes: producing food, replenishing water, restoring biodiversity, and fostering community well-being.
Why Involve Young People?
Unlike conventional farming, which often depletes the soil and demands chemical inputs, permaculture regenerates the land through natural composting, polyculture planting, and ecological design. It is a direct response to the climate and environmental crises addressed in Laudato Si’.
One of the most striking features of the Tangaza-Gathengera initiative is its focus on student participation. The Laudato Si’ Club at Tangaza University has taken the lead in food forest creation, composting, and tree planting activities.
James Kagwe, a permaculture expert at GPPC, emphasizes that young people are key to climate adaptation in Africa.
“We are facing harsh climatic conditions in Kenya today because of how we farm,” Kagwe says. “Permaculture is not an option, it is the right way to farm. If we train students now, we secure the future of farming, the environment, and our communities.”
Through practical, hands-on learning, students not only gain ecological literacy but also grow into stewards of the earth, echoing Pope Francis’ call for ecological conversion.
A Laudato Si’ Legacy in Action
As the world celebrates 10th anniversary of of Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’, Tangaza University and GPPC remind us that caring for creation begins at home—with our land, our waste, our food systems, and our youth. Their work serves as a living embodiment of the encyclical’s message: that faith without action is incomplete, and that ecological transformation is both a spiritual journey and a communal responsibility.
