Seeds of Care in Cartagena: How a School is Cultivating Ecological Awareness Through Faith and Action

At the Seminario de Cartagena Educational Institution, a powerful movement is taking root: one that weaves together ecological education, creativity, and Catholic faith into a living example of how local action can transform hearts and communities. Led by teacher Jefrye Martínez, the project We Were Born to Make Seeds inspires students to care for creation not only at school, but also in their homes, parishes, and neighborhoods.

From Concern to Action

The seed of the project grew from a concern: “I was worried about the environmental deterioration here in the city of Cartagena,” says Jefrye. As urban construction advanced and green spaces disappeared, she looked at her school, a campus filled with ancient and beautiful trees, and saw an opportunity to turn it into a living laboratory for environmental care.

Thus was born We Were Born to Make Seeds, a project for students to develop a culture of environmental stewardship. “They will be agents who care for our surroundings, as well as for their homes, parks, churches, or wherever they are,” she explains.

Creative Formation Rooted in Faith

This project isn’t just about teaching facts about the environment. It’s about forming habits, values, and a joyful engagement with creation. With the help of her students and colleagues, Jefrye has brought the school to life through:

• Ecological corners on campus
• Student environmental groups
• Campaigns on recycling, cleanliness, and responsibility
• Artistic activities such as dances, plays, poems, and even themed pajama parties about water, trees, or the earth

This holistic approach allows students to internalize ecological values in a playful, hands-on, and spiritually meaningful way. “It’s very beautiful, truly, and also a great source of satisfaction for a teacher.”

A Whole-Community Effort

The project has support at every level. The school coordinator even uses a megaphone to remind students to clean up after recess. Students separate caps, wrappers, and plastic bottles into labeled containers, and before going home, they tidy their classrooms. “This way we also work closely with the general service staff,” Jefrye notes.

It’s not just about caring for the environment—it’s about formation in responsibility, collaboration, and love for others.

Faith at the Center

The roots of the project run deep into the school’s Catholic identity. Jefrye sees caring for creation as inseparable from her faith: “Our God gave us everything—the environment, the trees, the earth, the air. Therefore, we must take care of that great and precious gift.”

The school’s Pastoral Animation program reinforces this connection. Each class begins with a ritual greeting grounded in faith and hope:

“Very good morning, justice, love, and peace, in Christ Jesus. May God bless you, amen. Let us walk together in hope.”

This motto—Let us walk together in hope—guides the entire educational community on its path toward a more sustainable and faith-filled future.

Leaving a Mark

For Jefrye, the project is not only about immediate behavioral change—it’s about forming a generation that carries the values of care, responsibility, and reverence to the wider world. “We seek to leave an important mark on our educational community,” she affirms, especially by reaching children from a young age so they grow up with environmental care as a natural and joyful habit.

And it’s bearing fruit. From students reminding each other not to litter to conscious actions in public spaces, signs of transformation are evident. “We demand of ourselves to care, and we also ask others to care, because this is our planet… we have to protect it for our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

And You—What Seed Will You Plant?

Jefrye’s work reminds us that real change begins with small steps: with habits, with childhood, and with creativity rooted in love and faith.

If you are part of a school, parish, or community, take a moment to explore the Suggested Actions in your Laudato Si’ Action Platform dashboard. You might find ideas such as:

• Organizing an ecological art project
• Forming a student-led green team
• Holding a prayer service or liturgy with creation themes
• Establishing recycling routines in classrooms or parish halls 

A large budget isn’t needed to make a big impact. You just need a few seeds—and the care to make them grow. As Jefrye Martínez shares:

“We want students to see the environmental crisis as a daily challenge that must be transformed and improved.”

Let us walk together in hope.