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Category: News

  • Eco-Therapy: Healing for Climate Action Workshop

    Eco-Therapy: Healing for Climate Action Workshop

    When: Sunday 23 February 2025, 1-3pm AEDT

    Kanchana Weerakoon, an environmental conservationist and eco-therapy practitioner, will host a transformative two-part webinar to explore the healing potential of nature and its role in inspiring climate-conscious actions.

    Part 1: Kanchana will introduce the concept of eco-therapy, explaining how reconnecting with nature helps address challenges like eco-anxiety, climate grief, and burnout. By fostering a sense of interconnectedness with the natural world, eco-therapy can inspire a deeper sense of stewardship. Participants will learn how feeling “at one” with nature can drive small but impactful climate-friendly practices, such as reducing waste, recycling, and sustainable living.

    Part 2: The session will include a live video demonstration of eco-therapy in action. Kanchana will guide attendees on a peaceful virtual walk through her Metta Garden in Sri Lanka. This biodiverse and sustainable space serves as a model for how therapeutic gardens can support mental health and nurture a connection with the environment. Kanchana will share practical advice on creating similar spaces at home, cultivating mindfulness, and embedding sustainability into daily life.

    The workshop is free; however, we encourage you to donate if you learned something. All donations go towards supporting youth-led climate projects in the Asia-Pacific, at the forefront of climate change. Please consider donating!

    Donate to JCJ here

  • 2024 Maritime Leadership Camp: Sea Scape

    2024 Maritime Leadership Camp: Sea Scape

    We are happy to report that this year’s 5th instalment of The Floating School’s Maritime Leadership Camp went great. JCJ takes great pride in having sponsored this program for the past four years, beginning in 2020. Nestled in the stunning landscapes of South Sulawesi, this initiative has magnetised over 100 enthusiastic alums over the past five years.

    This year, the program theme was Sea Scape, and the online segment unfolded on July 27-28, 2024. The dynamic duo of Kanchana and Tony captivated the young delegates with a presentation on climate change issues in the Asia-Pacific region. They also underscored the pivotal role of youth in driving climate action and offered practical tips for getting started, empowering the young leaders to make a difference.

    The real adventure kicked off with the in-person program at Lowita Beach, Pinrang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, from August 2-4, 2024. There, 30 young individuals delved deep into Indonesia’s maritime history, immersed themselves in marine conservation efforts, and even had the incredible opportunity to release turtles into their natural habitat. The program also featured marine ecosystem and sea observations, a fulfilling beach clean-up, mangrove planting, and an engaging eco-bricks workshop. Moreover, participants honed their leadership skills through a series of empowering exercises designed to empower them to lead the charge in combating climate change.

    We are eager to see what the talents at The Floating School will make next year and are excited about the future of the Maritime Leadership Camp.

  • Colombo Yathra 2024 – an amazing result!

    Colombo Yathra 2024 – an amazing result!

    The Colombo Yathra was a five-day training program held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from June 15th to 20th, 2024. Our sister organisation, ECO-V, organised it, and 15 young people participated. The program received generous support from donors, who helped raise $3,615, funding 11 out of the 15 participants.

    During the event, participants took part in workshops, discussions, field trips, individual reflection time, and environmental meditations. The 5 days were full of activity and some highlights included visiting a farm and butterfly garden at Dilmah Conservation, as well as urban Metta Gardens – ECO-V, Oneness, and Saranilla. Yathrees also learned about eco-friendly products and eco-bricking during a session on conscious consumerism with Kanchana.

    Participants gave positive feedback, saying the Yathra gave them “new hope for the restoration of the environment.” They have already started making changes at home, and their families are embracing conscious consumerism too. The next step is to follow the progress of these young people over the next year as they use their new knowledge and work on climate-related projects in communities across Sri Lanka. We’re excited to see the positive impact these young leaders will have in their regions.

  • Empowering Young Green Leaders: The 2024 Colombo Yathra

    We are excited to share with you the inspiring work of JCJ and ECO-V in our ongoing efforts to empower young green leaders through this year’s Colombo Yathra.

    Donate here!

    The Colombo Yathra, hosted by ECO-V and led by Kanchana Weerakoon, represents a significant milestone as it marks the eighth Yathra and the first since the COVID-19 pandemic. This journey brings together 15 youths from diverse backgrounds in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to equip them with the necessary tools and knowledge to become effective climate leaders in their own communities and beyond.

    At the heart of the Yathra is the mission to train and empower young leaders in the Asia-Pacific region to fight for climate justice. This year’s project focuses on three key subjects: regenerative agriculture, sustainable living, and climate change. Through a 5-day residential training program, selected youths are trained using a variety of methods including audiovisuals, interactive games, practical sessions, and field visits centered on climate science, sustainability, biodiversity protection, conscious consumerism, and regenerative agriculture.

    Following the training, the participants return to their communities and pledge to complete a climate-related project within the next year, aiming to bring substantial benefits to their local areas.

    The Colombo Yathra project has already made a significant impact, having trained over 700 youth leaders across the Asia-Pacific region. This year, we are excited to continue our mission and empower the next generation of green leaders.

    We invite you to support this meaningful cause by making a donation of either $110, $220, or $330. Your generosity will enable us to continue our mission of empowering young green leaders to fight for climate justice in their local communities and beyond.

    Join us in empowering the next generation of green leaders in the Asia-Pacific region. Your contribution can make a meaningful difference in the fight for climate justice.

  • Conscious Consumerism & Sustainable Living Workshop

    Workshop recording, Sunday, 25 February

    Event Partner of the National Sustainable Living Festival 2024.

    When: Sunday, 25 February 1-3pm AEDT

    What you will need:

    1. A 600ml plastic bottle,
    2. About 30 items that used to be taken by Red Cycle, including a mix of clean and dry soft plastics such as chip packets, cheese wrapping, coffee packs, and a few thin bags,
    3. A wooden spoon with a long round handle for stuffing the bottles.

    This is a beginner-friendly workshop, suitable for anyone interested in learning more about sustainable living and reducing waste in their daily lives.

    Kanchana’s approach is informed by the 10Rs of sustainable living – Reject, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Replace, Recycle, Rethink, Remember, Repeat. This approach has allowed her to live a zero-waste lifestyle for the last 23 years in her home and business in Sri Lanka and New Delhi, India. Kanchana will share some easy, low-cost ways that participants can elevate their sustainability journeys.

    In the second part of the workshop, Kanchana will take participants through a hands-on workshop on making eco-bricks. Eco-bricks are the only way to recycle soft plastics in Australia and take them out of circulation. The participants will learn how to convert their non-biodegradables into sustainable building blocks by compacting plastic bottles with their non-biodegradable waste. 

    The workshop is free; however, we encourage participants to donate if they learned something. All donations go towards supporting youth-led climate projects in the Asia-Pacific, at the forefront of climate change. Please consider donating here.

  • Sister Organisation ECO-V wins big

    ECO-V won the Green Community Commitment of the Year 2023 Award from the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka. Our sister organisation has been working towards environmental sustainability for 22 years, and we are thrilled they received this recognition. Like JCJ, ECO-V believes in taking individual responsibility for protecting the environment and is committed to continuing their work with hope and passion.

    Kanchana Weerakoon, the Founder for Eco-V, told JCJ;
    “22 years of our journey in volunteering towards protecting environment was not an easy one but we all walk along in that path with hope and having responsibility for individual commitments.“

    JCJ would like to thank ECO-V for all their hard work over the years with lifting Sri-Lankan’s environmental consciousness. They have constantly inspired JCJ and we wouldn’t have the opportunity to support such great projects without their ingenuity and passion.

    We look forward to continuing our organisations’ strong bond and work on many projects together in the future.

  • Update: KAMY report and attending COP28

    Since we sponsored KAMY in 2023, our funding has helped enhance their operational capabilities and outreach efforts. In 2023, they sent three representatives to COP28, including an Indigenous Orang Asli from Rompin to present their reports to UN mandate holders and delegates from Malaysia. Our support is helping KAMY make a huge impact, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it!

    KAMY’s Summary report from the previous funding in 2022:

    JCJ’s support has enhanced our operational capabilities and outreach efforts, as detailed below:
    1) Enhanced Digital Storage: essential for our digital campaigns and record-keeping.
    2) Improved Video Production: has expanded our presence on Instagram. We’ve been able to produce more engaging videos on topics like Just Energy Transition (JET) and feminist climate action, crucially in Bahasa, filling a significant content gap.
    3) Continued Development of Climatea: Thanks to JCJ’s initial funding, Climatea is expanding its influence. We’re now focused on creating a dictionary for translating climate terminologies from English to Bahasa Melayu. This effort will enhance accessibility for content creators and the general public. We’re also preparing to release COP28 terminologies tailored for our indigenous partners. Our Resource Hub, which was kickstarted by JCJ’s funding will also continue to expand. You can access KAMY Resource Hub here

    A recent update, this year KAMY was able to send three representatives to COP28, including an Indigenous Orang Asli from Rompin. This participation was vital for our advocacy and visibility. We also successfully released two significant climate reports, “Orang Jakun & The Climate Crisis” and “Heartbeat Voices from Indigenous Youth of Peninsula Malaysia,” making a profound impact in our community engagement and policy influence. These reports have not only deepened our community engagement but also significantly influenced policy discussions. We had the opportunity to present these reports to various UN mandate holders and delegates from our country at COP28.

    Your contribution has been instrumental in these successes, and we are deeply grateful for your continued support. These achievements reflect our joint commitment to fostering a robust and informed climate justice movement in Malaysia.

  • 2023 Update: Carteret Islanders reforesting with trees & mangroves

    Ursula Rakova, the founder of the Tulele Peisa, showing the efforts of their team planting a mini-forest on the Carteret Islands.

    Tulele Peisa and the Young Rangers have been working hard since 2011, planting 100,000 trees to build resilience and mitigate climate change. JCJ have been long-term supporters of theirs and are happy whenever we can share news of what they are achieving.

    Ursula Rakova, executive director of Tulele Peisa, says they aim to plant 500,000 trees, and the mini-forest they’ve created is already making an impact – it has had rain when the surrounding areas have not.

    In July 2023, they built stone fences to protect mangrove seedlings from rising sea levels. It’s inspiring to see a small group make a big difference!

    Young Rangers building stone fences for the protection of mangrove seedlings
    Young Rangers building stone fences for the protection of mangrove seedlings
    Mangrove seedlings, that help prevent erosion and flooding, require protection while they grow large enough not to be washed away.

  • AGM 2022-23 Updates + New President!

    On 23 November, JCJ held our annual AGM, where we reflected on the past year.

    Thanks to your contributions, in 2023, we supported some great projects in the Asia Pacific:
    – Jumpstarting a 100% organic Urban Metta Garden in Sri Lanka
    – Relocating the Carteret Islanders and supporting their work
    – Supporting the Floating School’s Indonesia Maritime Leadership Camp
    – Helping enhance the outreach of Klima Action Malaysia (KAMY)
    – Empowering two Sri Lankan women by selling 117 recycled sari bags

    We also took this chance to farewell our outgoing president, Natalie, who has led JCJ for three years. Natalie has chosen to step down but will remain on the committee as an ordinary member to keep contributing her experience.

    Alex has now stepped up as the new JCJ president!

    Having started with JCJ 3 years ago as a Social Media volunteer, Alex soon became a Committee Member.

    While new to the world of climate action, Alex is super enthusiastic about taking on this new role and is eager to hear from you. So, if you have any suggestions for new projects that JCJ should take on in 2024, or if you just want to say hi, go ahead and shoot Alex an email via the contact us tab!

  • JCJ Trivia Night – Back by popular demand!

    Back by popular demand, JCJ is running another Trivia Night! 

    WHEN: Friday, 3 November, 6:45pm
    WHERE: The Last Jar, Irish pub, 616 Elizabeth St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
    ENTRY: Free, please RSVP to Jack at 0411 131 335 by Wed 1 Nov

    Test your mettle, bring some friends for a fun night, or just come by and say hi, everyone is welcome! 

    Topics will range from general knowledge to pop culture, with a dose of climate sprinkled in. There will be live music at the pub and they always have great food on offer. 

    We look forward to seeing you there! 


    UPDATE NOV 9 2023:

    We had a fantastic time on the evening of Friday, 3 November, catching up with the committee and JCJ members at The Last Jar. 

    Our President, Natalie, hosted a night of trivia, which was a blast. It has become a wonderful tradition we started last year, and it’s always a highlight of the event. The trivia winners were thrilled to walk away with a couple of bottles of wine as their prize. 

    And let’s not forget about the auction! We all came together for a great cause and raised $300, which will directly support JCJ projects.

    We hope to see you there at next year’s Trivia Night!
     
    Full disclosure: we had so much fun at the Trivia Night, we forgot to take photos! So here is one from last year’.