The Use of Natural Resources at Notre Dame Girls Senior High School
By Sister Emelia Ayambire Agana
Left to right: Students Afriya Esther and Joycely Seidu Mantenso and Sister Emelia Ayambire Agana gather fallen leaves on the grounds at Notre Dame Girls Senior High School.
The presence of the School Sisters of Notre Dame at Notre Dame Girls Senior High School in Sunyani, Ghana, has made a great impact on the lives of both staff and students. The influence has come not only through classroom knowledge but also morals and more importantly, care for our common home.
The word “shalom” is a very common term that is used and practiced by both staff and students. We are aware of the peaceful co-existence of creation and therefore do our best.
We strive to live sustainably by making good use of the meager resources we have. Each morning the students give their best in keeping the environment clean. They are led by the teachers to pick up the dry leaves that have fallen from trees, and then send the bulk of the leaves, grass, and kitchen waste from the homes of the teachers who live on campus to a pit.
These leaves and the kitchen waste are allowed to decompose, and the compost is applied to young plants on campus to keep them growing. This forms part of our shalom mandate on campus in caring for our common home instead of using chemical fertilizer on our plants, which would become toxic to our soil and our bodies of water in the near future. Or burning the leaves which would lead to the death of microorganisms.
We believe in the call of Pope Francis in living Laudato Si’ each day.
More on Laudato Si’
- Read more reflections about the Laudato Si’ Action Platform goals.
- Click here to learn more about Laudato Si’ and the seven international goals of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.