In recent years, the global environmental crisis has prompted diverse stakeholders to seek sustainable solutions. For the past ten years, Partners For Conservation has been at the frontline to engage influential advocates for environmental stewardship such as Historically Marginalised People, women and youth groups, local governments, private operators, learning and reseach institutions. Very recenlty, PFC has embarked with a new paradigm for inclusive community engagement by engaging churches.

For Partners For Conservation It is timely important to educate church members on environmental issues by accomodating environmental awreness during different churhc serveces.

It is within this regards that, on Sunday 14th of December, 2025 Emmanuel BUGINGO, the Founder of Partners For Conservation joined local people, congregation alongside the church pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda, Presbytery of Rubengera, Bucyeye parish official launch a « church-based environmental education initiative » in Rwanda in general and iaround Mukura Natural Forest in particular.

This unprecedented and historic event was the very first in church services whereby environmentalist was given the floor during a church services not to speak about theologiy but to preach about the protection of nature, care for creation, and the responsibility of communities to live in harmony with their environment.

In his speach, Emmanuel Bugingo emphasized the importance of establishing a faithanchored environmental education program noting that churches are trusted institutions capable of shaping values, behavior, and collective action over time. He highlighted that women’s inclusion is central to the initiative, both for social equity and environmental impact, and aligned the project with Rwanda’s Vision 2050 green economy aspirations. He recalled that burning issues such as reforestation, clean water access, and sustainable ecotourism can play a fundemental role in transforming lives of church members while protecting the environment.

The church pastor reaffirmed the Presbyterian Church’s commitment to the collaboration, stating: “We are proud to partner with PFC to empower women and promote environmental stewardship through our church, making conservation part of everyday life.”

He emphasized the church’s role as a platform for advocacy and mobilization, allowing women involved in the project to use church services to sensitize and mobilize other local women on environmental protection and sustainable livelihoods.

The engagement follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between PFC and the Presbyterian Church, aimed at promoting Nature-Based Solutions that link environmental protection with sustainable livelihoods. While the project model builds on proven conservation approaches used in protecting mountain gorillas and their habitat, the use of the church as a platform for continuous environmental education represents a bold and innovative step forward

A core component of the partnership is a modern sewing project designed to empower women economically while reducing dependence on forest resources. Through this initiative, ten women have been supported with sewing machines, raw materials, and professional training, enabling them to engage in alternative income-generating activities that contribute to forest conservation.

Going forward, environmental education messages will be shared every Sunday, with the goal of nurturing a growing network of “Environmental Apostles” particularly women who will champion conservation within their families, the church, and the wider community.

This initiative demonstrates how faith and conservation can reinforce one another, offering a scalable model that protects Mukura Natural Forest while strengthening community livelihoods and values.