August 09, 2021 Monday
MANILA, 10 August 2021 — Department of Education (DepEd) learners will gather to educate, inspire and encourage their fellow children to take the lead in climate action on the 57th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic, “Climate Action Stories of Children, Written by Children”
The online conversation, conceptualized and hosted by three-term former Senator, now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 12 August 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and fac
Joining the online conversation are DepEd personnel and learners including Director Ronildo Co and Ms. Zherluck Shaen Rodriguez of DepEd Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Service (DRRMS); Ckyr M. Leonardo from Valencia National High School (Division of Valencia City), Joshua Ofiasa Villalobos of the Youth for Climate Hope (Division of Bacolod City), Raaina P. Hinay of Kids Who Farm (Division of Zamboanga City); and Amabelle Franchesca, a campus journalist from Congressional Integrated High School (Division of Cavite).
Despite being the least responsible for climate change, children bear the brunt of its impacts. Climate change is increasing the range and incidence of major health hazards and risks for children as they are more susceptible to physical and psychological trauma, nutritional deprivation, infectious agents, and environmental contaminants due to their dynamic developmental physiology and immature defense systems.
However, children are seen to be the active voices of climate action. Their role in raising awareness and implementing initiatives in line with the local context is a must for the effective implementation of adaptation interventions.
DepEd recognizes climate change’s adverse impacts on children as well as their vital role in championing climate action. It is through its initiatives that DepEd intends to empower and encourage them to be changemakers.
As part of its climate change adaptation and mitigation (CCAM) program, the Department through the DRRMS is developing Climate Action Stories of Children, Written by Children Booklet that aims to showcase inspiring stories of the Filipino learners who are advocating for climate action. The stories are written by student journalists who completed The Green Beat Initiative: An Online Environmental Journalism Training for Student Campus Journalists and School Paper Advisers spearheaded by the DepEd DRRMS and the Association of Young Environmental Journalists (AYEJ).
The upcoming episode will highlight the initiatives of DepEd in inculcating environmental consciousness and elevating the level of children’s participation in climate action, and will feature learners who exemplified outstanding leadership in environmental initiatives related to CCAM in their schools and communities.
As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, “Stories for a Better Normal” aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities.
This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.
