Follow Us:

Frequently Asked Questions

Faq's

General frequently asked questions

Bethany Land Institute offers multiple Integral Ecology programs, including the Certificate in Integral Ecology (2 years), the Junior Certificate in Integral Ecology for P7 candidates (3 years), and the Integral Ecology Practitioners Program (2 years), as well as Outreach Programs for groups. Below you'll find answers to commonly asked questions about admissions, program details, and how to support our work.

Inspired by Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si', BLI employs the practice of Integral Ecology to empower local students and communities to combat environmental degradation, food insecurity, and poverty in rural Uganda. If you have additional questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Contact Us

Bethany Land Institute (BLI) is a formation institute offering multiple Integral Ecology programs. Our residential programs include 2-year and 3-year tracks, and we also host Outreach Programs for groups (from one week to one year). Located on a 400+ acre campus in Luwero, Uganda, BLI was founded in response to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si' to address environmental degradation, food insecurity, and poverty through the practice of Integral Ecology.

BLI's program is structured around three pillars named after the biblical residents of Bethany: Mary's School - a sustainable teaching farm that forms Caretakers in regenerative agriculture and food production; Martha's Market - the business hub where trainees develop entrepreneurship skills through a savings cooperative (SACCO) and product sales; and Lazarus' Trees - a forest restoration project and tree nursery working toward planting 1 million trees by 2050.

Program duration depends on the track: Certificate in Integral Ecology (2 years), Junior Certificate in Integral Ecology for P7 candidates (3 years), and the Integral Ecology Practitioners Program (2 years). We also run Outreach Programs for groups ranging from one week to one year, and we are developing cohort-based short programs (about four months, typically Nov–Feb).

Each Caretaker Trainee is expected to contribute a small portion of the overall program cost, which fosters ownership and dignity. However, no trainee will be denied admission due to lack of funds. Those facing hardship can enter a work-study program or market goods they harvest to cover their portion. Full sponsorship is available at $2,500 per year or $5,000 for a two-year program. Costs vary for the 3-year Junior Certificate and Outreach Programs. Partial scholarships of $500-$1,000 are also available through the Caretaker Assistance Fund.

BLI welcomes a new cohort of Caretaker Trainees each year, typically in February. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. To apply, please contact our team through the Contact Us page or reach the Head Trainer at +256 777986201 / snyombi@bethanylandinstitute.org , or the Academic Registrar at +256 78180176 for more information about the application process and admission requirements.

BLI's campus is located in Nandere, Nyimbwa subcounty, Luwero, Uganda, on a 400+ acre plot of land that includes the last remaining natural forest in the Luwero District. The location is strategic as Luwero was heavily affected by Uganda's civil war (1980-1986) and provides a lens into the challenges of deforestation, food insecurity, and poverty experienced across rural Uganda. Our U.S. mailing address is: PO Box 6391, South Bend, IN 46660.

There are many ways to support BLI: Sponsor a Caretaker ($2,500/year or $5,000 for two years) to create a direct relationship with a student; contribute to our Caretaker Assistance Fund ($500-$1,000); support campus projects like Martha's Market infrastructure or classroom renovations; donate to Lazarus' Forest tree planting ($100 plants 10 trees, $1,000 plants 100 trees); or join a giving circle with friends and family. BLI is a 501(c)3 nonprofit - all donations are tax deductible. Visit our Support page or contact snyombi@bethanylandinstitute.org.

BLI was founded by three Ugandan priests: Father Emmanuel Katongole (Professor of Theology and Peace Studies at the University of Notre Dame and BLI's visionary leader), Father Cornelius Ssempala (Philosophy Professor at Makerere University and BLI Site Manager), and the late Father Anthony Rweza (who served as chairman of BLI's Uganda Board until his passing in 2021). In 2019, Archbishop Paul Ssemogerere of the Archdiocese of Kampala became a co-founding partner through a memorandum of understanding with the diocese of Kasana Luweero.