First Gen Corporation wields education as a powerful tool to cultivate a regenerative future, deepening students’ understanding of climate change concepts while inspiring them to take actionable steps toward making a positive impact.
From February to March 2024, Create for the Climate (CFTC), First Gen CSR’s flagship program on the environment, engaged 1,617 students from the company’s host schools in Batangas City, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Bukidnon and Agusan del Norte.
Through immersive storytelling and interactive games, CFTC captured the imaginations of the students, transforming complex climate concepts into engaging learning experiences. The activities clarified the differences between weather and climate and illustrated the profound impacts of climate change. Participants translated these insights into creative presentations, showcasing their enhanced understanding and perspectives on climate science.
Beyond awareness, the students were also challenged to translate their learnings into climate action projects. A total of 52 groups took up the challenge, each crafting initiatives tailored to address environmental issues within their schools and communities.
Students from Batangas City crafted plant boxes from recycled materials and funded solar lamps through plastic recycling. In Pantabangan, young innovators repurposed plastic bottles to create trash containers and plant guards, promoting sustainable waste management practices. Schools from Camarines Sur made a strong debut by conducting waste segregation drives and creating eco-bricks, enhancing islandcommunity recycling efforts. Similarly, Bukidnon schools initiated waste collection drives and crafted functional items from used plastic bottles. In Jabonga, Agusan del Norte, students undertook a signifcant tree-planting activity and educated younger students on effective waste management, fostering environmental stewardship among peers.
The winning teams received medals, school supplies, grocery packs, slippers, gift certificates and, more importantly, seed funding to support their budding environmental initiatives. The projects serve as shining examples of what the youth can achieve when passion, creativity and a commitment to environmental stewardship converge.
(Story/Photos by:Dianne Datu)