This post was translated to English from the original "Hľadanie jednoduchosti". The image of the 21st century human is the pursuit of perfection. The desire and need to have everything right now: to buy fresh mandarins in Slovakia in December, to move from one place to another by the fastest means of transport, to be... Continue Reading →
Three Manos Unidas volunteers at CIDSE's Sustainable Camp 2022. A family farm, dating back to 1906, converted into a Rural Tourism Centre, where ecology and spirituality go hand in hand. A magical space where three volunteers from Manos Unidas had the opportunity to live and share the connection with nature, people and God through a... Continue Reading →
A testimony by MISEREOR young supporters Johanna, Madita and Nadja.Listening to the rustling of the leaves and the chirping of the crickets in the grass. Feeling the sun's rays on your skin. Being called by the living sound of the bell. Having inspiring conversations. Living, creating and enjoying in connected community. That is Casa Velha!... Continue Reading →
Portugal’s "Our common journey to COP26" gathering took place in Casa Velha, Ourém on the 4th to the 6th of September. The young supporters arrived from different parts of Portugal to a very welcoming dinner already prepared by the locals of Casa Velha. After dinning together and deepening relationships around the same table, the young... Continue Reading →
It was the first time that I organized an activity for my job, gathering volunteers from FEC, CIDSE, and Casa Velha, and Casa Velha’s workers. When we imagined this meeting one year ago, it was intended to prepare volunteers for COP26. Participants would learn about climate policies at a European and local scale, watch a documentary,... Continue Reading →
On the 25th, 26th and 27th of February approximately 80 people concerned about the challenges of sustainability and care for our common home joined the ACORDA! program - From ecological conversion to social transformation, in Lisbon, promoted by FEC, Casa Velha and CIDSE, co-financed by the Portuguese Cooperation Agency (Camões I.P.). This program, whose title alludes to... Continue Reading →
This year I have had the opportunity to attend the “sustainable camp” in Ourem (Portugal) such a Manos Unidas volunteer with other young people from different CIDSE organizations. It has been a good time to stop the day-to-day stress and think about our personal role in the care of our “common home”. “Laudato Sí” calls... Continue Reading →
Sandra Iheanacho, a CAFOD volunteer from Westminster diocese, recently travelled to Fatima, Portugal to attend a sustainability camp inspired by Laudato Si’. There she saw Laudato Si’ brought to life and here she talks about her experiences and how every community can get involved. * This article was first published on CAFOD’s website. See here the link... Continue Reading →
I have to say that I had previous experience in agriculture, as my grandfather had fruit trees and I have learned to pick the up them with my family. However, I have never learned so much from ‘weeding’ or uprooting as in Casa Velha. How is it possible?The key for this learning process was father Francisco,... Continue Reading →
This idea of a covenant is a sacred one to Catholicism, the idea of a promise between God and His people. We as stewards of God’s creation we are in a covenant with nature. This fine balance allows us to live alongside and reap the benefits the earth has to provide for us. As I... Continue Reading →
Sustainable living encompasses so many aspects, but importantly, we need to remember that this concept is something that everyone should strive for. It, after all, affects every single person. The degree in which it impacts people differ primarily by a simple thing such as where an individual is from and what it is that they... Continue Reading →
On Wednesday, we had many reminders of the relationship between humanity and the environment, both through the experience of nature at the beautiful Casa Velha, and through discussion and dialogue with people from many countries and backgrounds. Casa Velha is a site that is very conducive to exploring how we can live in a right... Continue Reading →
When we look at our plate we rarely consider where the food that makes our meal comes from. For most of us, we go to the grocery store and buy what we need without thinking too much about how the tomatoes made it onto the shelf or even how the cinnamon got into its package.... Continue Reading →
"Change for the Planet - Care for the People" 