Sylvia Muia
Conservation Certificate Cohort 1: The Experience
Almost a year since its launch, the Conservation Certificate’s first cohort will graduate by the end of July. Read about their transformational experiences
Almost one year ago, A Rocha International launched the Conservation Certificate with the first cohort of 15 students coming from 10 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and Central America and Oceania. Created to honour the memory of Chris Naylor (former Executive Director of A Rocha International & founder of A Rocha Lebanon), his wife Susanna Naylor (co-founder of A Rocha Lebanon) and Miranda Harris (A Rocha co-founder, the certificate equips young leaders in conservation to be hopeful and effective conservationists.
In this blog post, students share their experiences of how the certificate has transformed their minds and lives.
1. The course has been attended by students from different parts of the globe with different cultures and challenges. What have you learnt from your fellow participants?
People working in conservation do so many different jobs. From communications to administration to housekeeping to science, they all work towards caring for creation in all the ways they contribute. I initially only thought that scientists’ work mattered in conservation but the certificate changed how I viewed that. It made me realize that the work I do still has an impact in conservation through the storytelling that reaches many people through the A Rocha website, social media and publications. Sylvia Muia (Kenya)
For me, I live in a rural setting and I’ve been amazed by all the creation care efforts coming out of Hong kong for example. A context that is so vastly different from my own but I’ve been really encouraged by all the examples of God’s creation there and the people working with it. But then also to realise that we have so much in common, in our faith, in our passion for creation and in our struggles and difficulties have been encouraging as well. Jacob Ämterlind (Sweden)
I have loved experiencing creation through the eyes of my fellow participants. Our Awe and Wonder channel on Slack has been such a beautiful space for sharing. I have loved seeing different parts of the world throughout the year. Species that I have never seen before, and climates I am yet to experience (others in snow while I am in summer!). Seeing how we are all in awe of God’s beautiful creation has deepened a sense of hope and joy for our future. Knowing that it isn’t just me and my friends at the bottom of the world who care, has been a deep source of hope. Millie Vette (New Zealand)
2. How has the course transformed you in your personal life and has it changed how you view God’s creation?
I always enjoyed being part of nature, especially when I take walks in the forest. Now I get to appreciate every part of creation including human beings and their innovations. I have begun to notice little things more. The sand that turned into stone that was turned into a house. The water that was turned into electricity that lights up the night. The darkness that allows us to see the stars at night even though I used to be terrified of it. Every little thing has a purpose. Even the mosquito and cockroach but I am still debating those two. Only God knows. Sylvia Muia (Kenya)
3. Has the course helped you professionally within the roles you are in working for A Rocha?
Yeah, it’s been great. It has given me so many new thoughts and ideas. Both for practical conservation and for organisational development. If I have to pick something, I’d highlight the sessions on how to set up a project, which was very hands on but also the sessions on advocacy and community engagement was really fascinating and encouraged me to be more proactive, I’d say, in involvement with authorities for example. Jacob Ämterlind (Sweden)
I am the regional coordinator for the upper North Island for the Eco Church project here in Aotearoa, New Zealand. I spend a lot of time with churches, talking about the importance of creation care and how important it is to the life of the church. The Conservation Certificate has deepened and expanded how I communicate and support churches in my work. This has been through the different readings we have had and hearing from the experiences of our teachers that this learning has happened. Millie Vette (New Zealand)
As a communications coordinator, there is a lot of content and information about A Rocha that I send to our audiences that requires me to have a greater understanding of creation care theology. I am now able to explain what we mean when we say God has commanded us to care for creation. It isn’t a concept that we are creating from thin air but a command that is in the Bible that has evidence. Sylvia Muia (Kenya)
4. Spiritually, has the course affirmed/challenged your belief about God’s call to steward and care for his creation?
Yes, definitely. And also affirmed my belief that God is working through A Rocha in a very special way. The many, many stories and examples from around the world that we’ve been listening to is really encouraging. And you can clearly see God’s hand at work there. And the diversity of speakers has been great as well. I feel like there’s a change coming, God is calling people from all over the world to wake up and challenge the ecological crisis head on. And that is giving me a lot of hope, both for the future of A Rocha but also for the church as an agent for change. And we need hope, don’t we. Desperately so. Jacob Ämterlind (Sweden)
5. Do you lead in any capacity ie a team, or a group of volunteers etc. Has the course helped your leadership skills?
I am not necessarily in a leadership position but in a position expected to inspire others. I train and support A Rocha comms personnel from more than 25 countries. The course has helped me learn to recognize that we all come from different cultures with different personalities. Someone being different from you can be challenging but it is a learning moment that can help build a meaningful professional connection. Sometimes, there could be surprising similarities but it is exciting to discover more than what you are used to. Sylvia Muia (Kenya)
6. Conservation work can be demanding, pressurised and also depressing in the face of climate change and global biodiversity collapse – has the course equipped you to cope with the hard times and given you a road map of hopefulness?
Conservation work can be a heavy burden, especially when the expectation is that humans need to fix what they have ruined. The course has been a helpful reminder as to why Christian conservationists play an important role in inspiring others to have hope. It is not a burden for us to carry but the Lord who still loves and cares for creation. It is such a relief and a great reminder that God is still the creator. Sylvia Muia (Kenya)
Sylvia Muia
Based in the bustling Nairobi city, Sylvia connects A Rocha to the world through creative writing and social media posts. Sylvia is a trained journalist and has a degree in Corporate Communications and Management. Sometimes, she can be spotted knitting, painting or baking cottage pies if she is not catching up on her favourite show.
Other Articles
Conservation Certificate Cohort 1: The Experience
Almost a year since its launch, the Conservation Certificate’s first cohort will graduate by the end of July. Read about their transformational experiences Almost one
Forty years of experiencing biodiversity and beauty in the Florida Keys, USA
Where faith, science and coral reefs meet. Reflecting on decades of diving in the Florida Keys, this article explores how science and theology can work
Unlikely partners
A personal view of the collaboration between finance and nature. This reflection explores whether finance and nature conservation are truly in conflict, or whether they