To commemorate Earth Day 2025, the Catholic community in Jakarta held an event titled SMILE NOW – Fun Walk Waste-Free Day. This lively event took place on Sunday morning, April 27, 2025, along the Jakarta Car-Free Day (HBKB) route. This year's Earth Day theme was "Our Power, Our Planet," emphasizing the importance of preserving Earth as the source of life.Through a fun walk while picking up trash, participants committed to making simple but meaningful changes. This enthusiasm served as a concrete response to the call to preserve the sustainability of our beloved planet.
The Fun Walk was attended by hundreds of participants from various communities, including Atma Jaya Catholic University, PEPULIH, Sahabat Insan, and Catholic schools such as Tarakanita, Strada, and St. Laurensia. Also present were the Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia (WKRI), alumni of St. Laurensia, and the Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia (WKRI). Ursula, sisters from various convents, and parishioners from many parishes in the Archdiocese of Jakarta. Participants walked the route from Atma Jaya Catholic University in the Semanggi Roundabout area to the Hotel Indonesia Roundabout and back again, filled with joy and care. This activity demonstrated that caring for the earth can be done together, joyfully. Every step is a small contribution to a cleaner environment.
The SMILE NOW concept carries a profound meaning: smiles from concrete actions towards a waste-free earth. Through this fun walk, participants not only invigorated physically and mentally but also inspired fellow car-free day users. This initiative hopes that CFD will become more than just a car-free day, but also a Waste-Free Day (WFD). The bright smiles created during this cleanup become a symbol of hope for the earth's sustainability. This small gesture is intended to inspire more people to make changes.
As the culmination of the event, participants participated in a talk show entitled "Do Small Things for a Smiling Earth." This talk show encourages everyone to not underestimate the impact of simple actions in caring for the earth. By sharing inspiring stories, the speakers reinforce the awareness that big changes always start with small steps. This talk show serves as a space for reflection and ignites renewed enthusiasm for the environmental movement. Participants leave not only with healthy bodies, but also with a renewed determination to continue caring for the earth.
The SMILE NOW activity also honors the legacy of Pope Francis's thought through the encyclical "Laudato Si." This pastoral letter has become a profound inspiration for the movement to care for the earth as our common home. Through small-scale activities like this Fun Walk, the spirit of Laudato Si lives on and is passed on to the younger generation. SMILE NOW is proof that simple actions can ignite a great passion for caring for the planet. All participants and committee members involved prove that from small steps, big smiles for the earth can be created.
