September 25, 2024 View all news In this blog, Oana Marian, Lelo Thebe, and Samirah Siddiqui, facilitators of two workshops we co-hosted this year, share their experiences. Our Active Hope workshop and Sowing the Seeds of Healing Justice brought together activists and change-makers to explore and process the emotional toll of the climate crisis. Aiming to restore energy and provide tools to avoid burnout, these workshops helped participants navigate the psychological and spiritual challenges that come with climate activism.We envision a sustainable future where humanity can thrive within the limits of a healthy global ecosystem. Therefore, in collaboration with the Global Diversity Foundation, Feasta, and Concern Worldwide, Friends of the Earth Ireland and Irish Aid supported two important initiatives in 2024. These targeted the need to process the difficult emotional responses to the climate crisis, restore energy among activists, and share strategies to avoid burnout.These two activities were: a day-long Active Hope workshop workshop in Dublin on 30 March 2024, and a four-day residential retreat—Sowing the Seeds of Healing Justice in Co. Sligo, from 3-6 May 2024.The Active Hope workshop, based on Joanna Macy’s work, allowed participants to process their emotions around the climate crisis and discover hope and empowerment. Co-facilitated by Oana Marian and Claudia Tormey, it gave participants the space to explore their emotional responses and find renewed energy.The Sowing the Seeds of Healing Justice retreat was co-organised and facilitated by Samirah Siddiqui, Oana Marian, and Lelo Thebe. It built on a retreat held in 2021 by Camille Sapara Barton and Farzana Khan that helped migrant activists address unique challenges. This year’s retreat aimed to create a space for healing and empowerment. Participants engaged in activities like nature walks and sharing stories, which created a supportive and transformative space. These workshops focused on how individuals and communities respond to the climate crisis.They applied the 'healing justice' approach, which recognises the emotional, psychological, and spiritual aspects of social justice. Both events successfully brought together diverse groups for a mutual exchange of support and skill-sharing.Participants gave overwhelmingly positive feedback, especially about the residential retreat. Many expressed a strong desire for more spaces like these in the future. By sharing knowledge, stories, food, and nature-based activities, participants processed challenging emotions and regained a sense of agency, community, and leadership. Many remain in contact after the events.These events had a big impact, especially in addressing the psychological and emotional toll of the climate crisis. The latest IPCC (United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report highlights how crucial this is for our future, but this has not yet been addressed by many climate-focused initiatives.Communities urgently need spaces that focus on this issue, offering not only hope but practical strategies for resilience and well-being in the face of uncertainty. Together, these workshops are part of a movement towards healing, reminding us that in our journey towards sustainability, we must also nurture ourselves and our collective well-being. Categorised in: Climate Change Activism Tagged with: activism climate Community Care Community Power Growing Together movement building Power to the People Workshops