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Author: Natalie Laussade-Long

  • Sri Lankan Plant Nurseries during COVID

    Newton’s Nursery

    Islyan Newton, a youth leader trained during the first Yathra (Journey) in 2011, has been busy during COVID-19 maintaining a native plant nursery that JCJ has supported. 140 plants were given away in November 2020 to be cultivated in the fields of northern Sri Lanka.

    In January, Newton conducted a full-day workshop for 25 young people. The workshop raised awareness about healthy food, natural living and sustainable waste management. He gave some plants from his nursery to each attendee to care for, and the rest are to be maintained collectively by the group.

    Gayani’s Nursery

    During COVID-19, Gayaniโ€™s work with garden training sessions from ECO-V (our sister organisation in Sri Lanka) dried up. At that time there was a growing demand for indoor air purifying plants, and so she was given some of JCJโ€™s funds to start and maintain a nursery for 6 months.

    When she went back to work in January, the plants were big enough to start selling. Despite COVID-19 still ravaging the country and making sales very difficult, she has already managed to sell some to an online store.

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  • Support for KAMY – Late 2020


    KAMY (Climate Action Malaysia) certainly havenโ€™t let the pandemic stop their work since their last report! JCJโ€™s financial support has allowed them to pay for their website domain, zoom account and an infographics site access. These have given them a wider reach in their country during the pandemic when so much has moved online. They have taken part in, and run, many online rallies, discussion panels, campaigns and community engagement programs. Below is a snapshot of their activities!

    One in particular, also funded by JCJ, is the Indigenous and Climate Art Project. It aims to use video to share the complex traditional knowledge held by the indigenous group KAMY are working with, and to show how climate change is affecting their way of life. The videos, which can be viewed below, promote cultural awareness in more urban Malaysian areas and stress the importance of supporting indigenous groups in their struggles.

    If you are interested in our work, consider subscribing to our quarterly newsletter, and following JCJ on Facebook.

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  • AGM 2019/20 on Zoom

    Join us on Friday 25th at 6pm to celebrate the beginning of JCJ’s 10th year anniversary. We have brought in some exciting guest speakers!

    It is a very exciting time for JCJ because it was 10 years ago that our founders Kanchana and Jim met and conceived the organisation!

    To celebrate this anniversary, we have organised a very special line-up for our AGM that reflects the past, present and future of JCJ.

    Zoom Link –
    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89717974009?pwd=c1ZJTEpQR0ptaHFIUXpUVkx5eVIwdz09

    Ursula Rakova
    Director of Tulele Peisa, a community-based organisation in Bougainville that is helping set up sustainable livelihoods for Carteret Islander climate refugees. Ursula speaks all over the world about the Carteret Islands and is in high demand, so we are very grateful she has made the time to speak to us.

    Chapa Erandi Amarasinghe
    A trained youth leader from the 6th Yathra, Chapa co-led the most recent Yathra and has worked full time with ECO-V for two years. She is now conducting environmental awareness programs, working/ volunteering with ECO-V and working for another NGO in Sri Lanka.

    Ili Nadiah Quarantasei
    Head of KAMY (Klima Action Malaysia) a grassroots climate movement led by youth who call for representative climate action in Malaysia by empowering vulnerable groups and communities: youth, women, and the marginalised.

    Islyan Newton
    Newton has been a participant of every Yathra since its inception, and co-leader of the most recent Yathra. He now volunteers in youth programs and maintains a nursery that provides plants for reforestation in Sri Lanka.

    Please RSVP before the meeting to help us know the approximate number of participants.
    Email us on jcj.secretary1 @ gmail.com or text 0 4 1 1 1 3 1 3 3 5.

    If you’d like to become more involved with JCJ, consider nominating for a position on the committee – all committee positions will be up for re-election at the AGM.
    To nominate, email or phone the Secretary by Friday the 11th of September.

  • 2011ย Kelani Nadeeย (River) Journey

    JCJโ€™s first project was ECO-Vโ€™s Kelani River Journey. ECO-V, our Sri-Lankan partner organisation, began the journey program with the aim of inspiring young people to become the future eco-Leaders of Sri Lanka.

    At the time, climate issues, climate mitigation and adaptation measures were not discussed on a grassroots level, and there was little awareness or sensitivity in the younger generations. The journey took twelve days, and involved 20 young Sri Lankas who were trained in sustainability, climate change, leadership and green living.

    The Kelani Journey overall was very successful due to the high media attention it received, which in turn created a national momentum towards eco-friendly mentality, sustainable development, and climate action. The attendees returned to their local communities to initiate their own projects with ECO-Vโ€™s support (18/20 implemented at least one awareness program in their local community), and many have stayed in touch with ECO-V, some even instigating their own journeys.