I couldn’t believe my luck at discovering Flourish @ St. Columbans, the eco-retreat project being held at the Columban House in Solihull, Birmingham. As an Education and Development student at the University of East Anglia, this project perfectly aligned with my Master’s research on how the Catholic Church integrates ecology into education. After reaching out to the organisation, I was given the chance to volunteer for the month of July 2025. During this time, I was able to immerse myself in Flourish and partake in Refugee Week events in Catholic schools across Birmingham.
What I found most rewarding during my time with the Columbans, was learning alongside young students as we explored justice and care for creation. I was inspired by their openness to engage with these issues, whether through participating in the ‘Lift the Ban’ campaign for refugee rights or or by welcoming refugees into their schools and seeking to understand their experiences. At Flourish, activities like pond dipping for the endangered great crested newt, and reflection time in the lovely meadows surrounded by wildflowers and butterflies, taught me ways to engage students with nature. Through these hands-on experiences, I learned the importance of fostering a sense of responsibility toward conservation in students, while connecting them to the environment in meaningful ways.
The experience deepened my understanding of Catholic Social Teaching, particularly of Laudato Si’ which is the cornerstone of my Master’s research. The mentorship and guidance from the Columbans has enriched both my academic work and my personal growth. Conversations with experienced staff around the world offered diverse perspectives that helped me understand how these principles can be applied to work in development. The values of human dignity, the common good, and stewardship of creation have shaped both my faith and my academic journey. Moving forward, I am committed to integrating ecology into any educational or youth development programmes I lead or design.
Following my work with the Columbans, I was given an opportunity to participate with the Lasallian Projects, which focused on education and the building of school infrastructure in rural Ghana. While the work didn’t centre directly on the environment, my Columban experience guided me through the planning and execution of engaging ecology-based lessons for primary school students. I’m deeply grateful to the Columbans for my meaningful experience and hope to continue my relationship with them by visiting their mission centre in my hometown of El Paso, Texas in the near future!
