Kildare Ministries Ecology Alliance
The first Kildare Ministries Ecology Alliance gathering!
The first Kildare Ministries Ecology Alliance gathering was held following the Net Zero student program at Amberley in July! Nineteen attendees from Kildare College Holden Hill, Brigidine College St Ives, Brigidine College Indooroopilly, Kilbreda College Mentone, Killester College Springvale and St Joseph’s College Echuca joined the after-school online meeting. Clonard graduate Lauren Dillon who started the Kildare Ministries Net Zero program facilitated the meeting.
The group agreed at the Net Zero program in July to meet every term, so we can encourage each other to keep our motivation alive by drawing on each other’s energy and ideas. As Lauren said, there is great power in connection, collaboration and having a shared purpose.
The meeting became a space of inspiration, with schools sharing the creative and practical steps they are taking towards ecological justice:
Killester College: Twelve students attended their first ecology meeting and officially launched a Green Team. Interest was sparked by a student-made video, which was shared widely and generated great momentum. A reminder will go out before their next gathering to keep the enthusiasm strong.
- Kildare College: Students have been busy with a Scope meeting, a beach clean-up, and are preparing for an excursion to Jeffrey’s to learn how landfill produces methane. They are also drafting a letter to school leadership advocating for more green bins on campus.
Brigidine College St Ives: Students shared the wonderful Lids for Kids initiative, where plastic bottle lids are recycled into prosthetics.
St Joseph’s College, Echuca: The students are working to get a Green Team off the ground. Already, the school has added sensors to some heaters, run active transport days, and promoted composting with new signage. Keen Year 8 students are vlogging their activities, while Year 10 leaders are preparing documentary trailers and presentations to engage younger students. The school has also approved the introduction of a native bee hive on campus!
- Kilbreda College: The students are tackling canteen waste by encouraging students to bring their own containers when ordering a lunch order; the canteen has agreed to offering a 10% discount to incentivise this great commitment to avoid packaging waste! The Environmental Action Team is making strong progress through collections, promoting the thrift shop, and raising awareness about fast fashion.
The group also shared strategies for increasing involvement in Green Teams, including school club expos at the beginning of each year, creating creative notices for school communications (like Animal Riddles in pastoral classes), and linking ecology initiatives with existing mission groups such as Justice & Democracy and St Vinnies.
The energy in the meeting was a clear sign of the growing movement towards an more integrated ecology across Kildare Ministries schools. By sharing stories, challenges and successes, students are building resilience and community as they take responsibility for the planet.
Jane Collopy
Mission Leader