From Classroom to Community: TEY Program Drives Reforestation Initiative
In a tangible demonstration of transformative education moving beyond the classroom, scholars under SCC’s Transformative Education for Youth Program led a vital environmental initiative that mobilized local youth to combat climate risks in flood-prone areas.
On December 14, 2024, eleven scholars spearheaded a community engagement program in Barangay Renibon, a remote village in the Municipality of Pigcawayan which is identified as vulnerable to flood and landslides. The initiative underscored the growing role of students as active development workers.
The scholars successfully gathered 44 local youth participants from the village for an intensive workshop on tree growing. Unlike traditional tree-planting activities that often end after the seedlings are planted, this initiative focuses on education and long-term sustainability. The session was designed to equip local youth with the practical, scientific knowledge necessary for successful reforestation. The curriculum covered strategic species selection to determine which trees are best suited for Renibon’s specific soil and terrain, as well as proper planting methods to ensure high seedling survival rates. Furthermore, the training emphasized disaster risk reduction, teaching participants how strategic tree growing serves as a natural barrier against landslides and flooding.
This activity highlighted the success of the Transformative Education for Youth (TEY) program. By empowering a predominantly female group of scholars to lead a predominantly male group of community participants, the event not only disrupted traditional gender roles but also addressed urgent ecological needs.
For the community of Barangay Renibon, the event was not just about environmental protection; it was an investment in their future safety and well-being. For the SCC scholars, it served as a capstone to their year, proving that their education is a tool for social and ecological transformation.
