Rooted Connections

Rooted Connections is a ten-month programme driving social change. It connects justice-minded young adults in the UK with social movements in the country of their heritage. Diasporas are a powerful force for change when they collaborate with activists at home. In 2024, we’ll be focusing on Nigeria.

We and a group of young adults at the Jos Green Centre in Nigeria are inviting young adults in the UK with African heritage to collaborate with us. Together, we'll use technology to address an environmental and social problem.

Equipping you to respond to injustice

At the centre of our Christian faith is a call to justice: to stand with people living in poverty and to stand against unjust practices in our society. Through Rooted Connections, Tearfund is equipping young adults in the UK to add their voices and skills to the restoration work happening on the African continent.

During the programme, you’ll work with members of Jos Green Centre to build strategy and take action. You’ll collaborate with them closely, deciding together what change you want to make and how you will achieve it. This could include anything from research to designing digital solutions, running an educational campaign, or meeting with government representatives to discuss policy solutions.

By the end of the programme, we expect that participants will have boosted their advocacy skills, deepened their understanding of God’s heart for justice and gained experience of influencing at an international level. 

How does it work?

Rooted Connections is a hybrid programme: you’ll meet virtually with members of the Jos Green Centre to build strategy and you’ll also gather in person with others in the UK to build connections (probably in London).

Starting in February 2024, we’ll meet each month until October 2024. In addition to strategising, we’ll explore what the Bible has to say about inequality and misused power in our world. After the programme, we hope that you’ll continue your journey of partnering with God for justice, both in the UK and globally. After all, you’ll have a new group of passionate friends to journey with!

Introducing Jos Green Centre

Jos Green Centre – based in Jos, a city in Plateau State in Central Nigeria – is a leading youth movement pioneering innovations for large-scale system change. From waste separation projects to building curriculums for educational institutions, their entrepreneurial projects deliver alternative environmental solutions. They build influence by first modelling change, then create widespread impact by encouraging others to follow their lead and advocating for local and national policy change. You can find out more about Jos Green Centre by reading the articles below. You can also follow them on Instagram or visit their website. 

How to apply

To apply, you’ll need to submit an application by 31 January 2024 using this form. Rooted Connections is currently open to Christians aged between 21 and 35, who are living in the UK and identify as being of African heritage (ie born in an African country or having African parents or grandparents).

If you have hard skills such as coding, that would add great value to our team, but you don’t need a background in digital technology to join the programme. You don’t need to have Nigerian heritage either, but a passion to ensure Nigerian communities are at the centre of sustainable solutions is a must.